Supreme Court Orders Structured Eviction Plan for Agasthyamalai Forest Encroachments
Expressing deep concern over persistent delays in clearing illegal settlements across the ecologically sensitive Agasthyamalai landscape, the Supreme Court of India has called for a structured, time-bound, and strictly monitored framework for evictions. The court observed that illegal occupations have continued for decades across major protected zones, despite recurring directives from both the apex court and the Madras High Court.
What Happened
A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta reviewed an interim report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). The top court had instructed the committee in 2025 to carry out an extensive survey of the Agasthyamalai landscape to detect non-forestry activities violating the Forest Conservation Act of 1980 and the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972.
Highlighting the state’s prolonged inability to enforce previous court mandates, the Bench suggested that paramilitary forces could be deployed if required to carry out evictions and safeguard sensitive ecosystems. The court also ordered strict legal and disciplinary action against 118 serving and retired government personnel who were identified as encroachers in the protected forest tracts.
Key Highlights
- Significant Encroachments Documented: According to the CEC report, 5,071.27 hectares in the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve were encroached by around 4,595 individuals as of 2020 official records, largely for cultivating crops like cardamom, silk cotton, and beans.
- Critical Ecological Corridors: The Srivilliputhur-Megamalai area forms the upper catchment of the Vaigai River, which supplies water to five downstream districts.
- Unauthorized Infrastructure: A total of 116 public utility and government structures were raised within forest areas without necessary approvals.
- Sanctuary Findings: In the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, 427.40 hectares have been encroached, with 237.09 hectares tied up in litigation amid a lack of verified reserve forest boundary maps. In the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, 998 families occupy 10.16 hectares.
- Moratorium Imposed: The apex court directed a complete halt on extending welfare schemes, transport links, electricity, public utilities, and infrastructure support to encroached forest lands to avoid legitimising illegal occupancy.
- Ban on New Projects: The court placed a total prohibition on the approval or start of any new non-forestry activities throughout the Agasthyamalai landscape.
Why This Matters
The Agasthyamalai landscape houses critical reserves including the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, and Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary. Encroachments in these areas threaten vital ecological systems, including the headwaters of the Vaigai River.
While the Tamil Nadu government highlighted in an affidavit that many occupants face economic hardship, lack land, or are involved in legal disputes, the Supreme Court emphasized that the complexities of rehabilitation cannot be used to justify indefinitely postponing mandatory conservation actions.
What to Watch Next
The state administration, led by a coalition government under C. Joseph Vijay, faces the operational challenge of executing court orders while managing the relocation and rehabilitation of thousands of affected families. Objections are also anticipated from the two primary Dravidian parties in the opposition. Observers will watch how authorities initiate disciplinary actions against the 118 government employees identified in the report and enforce the freeze on civic utilities in encroached zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which protected areas are covered under the Supreme Court’s directive?
The orders apply to the Agasthyamalai landscape, specifically highlighting the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve, the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, and the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary.
What did the Central Empowered Committee report about government staff involvement?
The CEC found that 118 identified encroachers were serving or retired government employees from various services, including the Police, Army, Forest Department, and other state agencies.
What restrictions did the Supreme Court order on civic facilities in encroached zones?
The court placed a blanket freeze on extending welfare initiatives, transport, power connections, and other public utilities to encroached sections to ensure unauthorized occupations are neither incentivised nor regularised.
Source: Report based on legal proceedings and findings documented by The Hindu.