On 12 December 1996, forest governance got a thumbs-up as the Supreme Court expanded the scope of the term "forest". In T.N. Godavarman Thirumulkpad Vs Union of India and Environmental Awareness Forum, Jammu and Kashmir vs State of Jammu and Kashmir, the SC reinterpreted the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. It now included within its scope not only forests as mentioned in government record but all areas that are forests in the dictionary meaning of the term irrespective of the nature of ownership and classification thereof. The case came to be popularly known as the Godavarman case.

Far-reaching consequences

Both the Godavarman and the Centre for Environmental Law (CEL), WWF vs Union of India and ors cases have led to fundamental changes that have wide impact on forest management. For example:

1) No forest, National Park or Sanctuary can be dereserved without the approval of the Supreme Court.

2) No non-forest activity is permitted in any National Park or Sanctuary even if prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 had been obtained.

3) An interim order in 2000 prohibited the removal of any dead or decaying trees, grasses, driftwood, etc from any area comprising a National Park or Sanctuary. It was also directed that if any order to the contrary had been passed by any State government or other authorities, that order shall be stayed.

4) New authorities, committees and agencies have been set up such as the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Agency.

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Orders 1996

Orders 1997

Orders 1998

Orders 1999

Orders 2000

Orders 2001

Orders 2002

Orders 2003

Orders 2004

Orders 2005

Some Orders dated 16 December 2005

Orders 2006

Order dated 16 September 2005 on Jamwa Ramgarh Sanctuary matter

Orders 2007

Orders 2008

Most Issues of the Newsletter carry orders in the Godavarman Case on a Regular Basis and readers can access Orders of 2005 onwards from the newsletters as well