P CHANDRAN Vs. CONSERVATOR OF FOREST CHENNAI REGION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioners, who are the residents of Gopalakrishnapuram Village, Thadukkupettai Post, Thiruthani Taluk, have filed the present writ petition seeking for a direction to the respondents not to dispossess their lands in Survey No. 93, (Old Survey No. 86) Gopalakrishnapuram Village, except by due process of law.

(2.) NOTICE was taken by the learned Special Government Pleader, who has also filed a counter affidavit dated 21. 10. 2009. In the counter affidavit, it is stated that the land is a forest land and steps are taken to evict them in terms of Section 68 (A) of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1982 and eviction notice was also given to the petitioners.

(3.) LEARNED Special Government Pleader also brought to the notice of the Court that the order of the Supreme Court in T. N. Godavarman Vs. Union of India wherein specific directions have been given to the State of Tamil Nadu stating that no pattas with regard to any forest land shall be granted nor shall any encroachment be regularised. Such a direction was given in I. A. No. 418. Therefore, counsel for the respondents/government stated that they are bound to carry out the directions issued by the Supreme Court, as the land is a reserved land and it is not de-notified or assigned.