IRENE ZOSANGLIANI Vs. STATE OF MIZORAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. Zoramchhana, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Ms. Mary L. Khiangte, learned Government Advocate for the State respondents.

(2.) The petitioners are aggrieved with the impugned Letters dtd. 14/4/2021, by which the petitioners have been asked to vacate Serhmun Village, by treating them as unauthorized occupants in the Dampa Tiger Reserve (Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary).

(3.) The petitioners case is that the Government of Mizoram, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department had issued a Preliminary Notification dtd. 24/7/2017, whereby the Governor of Mizoram, in exercise of the power conferred under Sec. 18 read with Sec. 19 to 25 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, was pleased to notify his intention to extend the existing core area of Dampa Tiger Reserve, by including the entire area of the Serhmun Village Council land, as given in the Schedule. Thereafter, in exercise of the power conferred under Sec. 26(A)(1) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Governor of Mizoram was pleased to declare the area given in the Schedule, which included the Serhmun Village Council area to be the revised core area of the Dampa Tiger Reserve (Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary) vide Notification dtd. 6/9/2018, w.e.f. the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.