Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Sep 4: The union and state governments came in for bitter criticism of the  High Court again on Tuesday September 2, with regard to their faulty forest policies.

The court, which has come down heavily on both the governments for having given 25 acres of forest land in Sandur of Bellary district on lease for mining activities, has asked the governments to place before it all the records pertaining to the said lease. It has also asked the forest, mining and revenue departments to conduct a joint study and submit the report thereof to the court. A divisional bench comprising of Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice Mohana Shantanagoudar issued orders to the government as above, in the case.

The bench also orally asked the governments to place before it, the names of officials involved with this issue. "The government raises a hue and cry if common people want to occupy a small forest land either for building homes or otherwise. On what basis does it give large tracts of forest lands on lease?," the bench questioned.

The courts have been trying to encourage planting of saplings and protect environment, while the governments appear to be planning to destroy trees through such permisions, the court commented. It also advised the governments to use their brains instead of doing mechanical work like a computer.  "You are following in the footsteps of the British, who looted our forest resources," the bench commented.

The bench has been hearing an appeal filed by a person named Basha Maqbool Ahmed, who has questioned the action of the governments in permitting a person named Menon to conduct mining in certain portions of the land already given to him for mining. His petition befoe the single-bench of the High Court was earlier dismissed and his current appeal is being examined by the divisional bench of the High Court.