M R SRIDHAR Vs. DISTRICT COLLECTOR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has prayed for issuing a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents not to appoint Mr. Kamalanathan (subsequently impleaded as respondent No.6) as the President for Village Forest Committee and to allow the petitioner to proceed with the implementation of Tamil Nadu Forest Development Scheme for Manali village.

(2.) Under G.O.Ms.No.342 dated 8-8-1997, the Government has decided to implement TamilNadu Afforestation Project . It is contemplated that Village Forest Councils would be constituted and each Village Forest Council shall elect a Executive Committee. The members of the Executive Committee has to elect President from among themselves, who would also become the Ex-officio President of Village Forest Committee and the Forest Ranger would be the Member Secretary of the Executive Committee. The Forest Ranger is to facilitate the election process of the members and President of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is reasonable for day to-day activities of the Village Forest Committee. Clause 8 of the aforesaid G.O., relates to Monitoring and Clause 8.1 being relevant, is extracted hereunder :-

(3.) The petitioner claims that he was elected as the President of the Village Forest Committee on 17.5.2001 in a meeting held in the presence of Forest Ranger. However, the other official respondents, namely the third and fourth respondents are implementing various schemes without consulting the petitioner, the President of Village Forest Committee, and other committee members.