The Supreme Court on Thursday brought a decades-old forest land dispute from Karnataka to a close, setting aside earlier High Court directions that had kept a small window open for a farming cooperative. Sitting in New Delhi, the bench made it clear that forest land cannot be quietly converted for agriculture, even if the arrangement dates back several decades. The appeal filed by the State of Karnataka was allowed, with strong words on environmental damage and misuse of forest land.
Background
The case traces its roots to the 1970s. In 1973 and again in 1976, the Karnataka government granted about 134 acres of land in Dharwad district to Gandhi Jeevan Collective Farming Co-operative Society on a ten-year lease. The stated purpose was agriculture.
According to the record, the society cleared trees and began cultivation. When the lease period ended in 1985, the government refused to renew it. What followed was a long chain of litigation - writ petitions, civil suits, appeals and even a second appeal - most of which did not go the society’s way. Courts repeatedly told the State that eviction, if required, had to be done “in accordance with law”.
Eventually, forest authorities initiated proceedings under the Karnataka Forest Act and formally evicted the society in January 2007. Despite this, the Karnataka High Court later allowed the society to make a representation to the Centre seeking continuation of the lease, a move the State challenged before the Supreme Court.
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Court’s Observations
The Supreme Court was blunt in its assessment. The bench observed that the very grant of lease for agriculture on forest land was “uncalled for” and had led to large-scale deforestation. “Forest land cannot be permitted to be used for non-forest purposes like agriculture without prior approval of the Central Government,” the court noted, referring to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The judges relied heavily on earlier landmark environmental rulings, including the T.N. Godavarman line of cases. They reminded that even ongoing non-forest activities in forest areas are illegal without central approval.
Rejecting the High Court’s approach, the bench observed that allowing a fresh representation would only “perpetuate the illegality”. It also recorded that possession of the land had already been taken by the Forest Department back in 2007.
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Decision
Allowing the State’s appeal, the Supreme Court set aside the High Court order that had permitted the cooperative to seek continuation of the lease. The court directed the Karnataka Forest Department to restore the entire 134 acres by planting indigenous trees and vegetation, in consultation with experts, within 12 months.
The matter will now be listed only for compliance, marking a firm end to the cooperative’s claim over the forest land.
Case Title: State of Karnataka & Others vs. Gandhi Jeevan Collective Farming Co-operative Society Limited
Case No.: Civil Appeal No. 3661 of 2011
Case Type: Civil Appeal (Forest / Land Lease Dispute)
Decision Date: 18 December 2025
