PoliticsPhoto: Deccan HeraldSupreme Court Rules Commercial Crop Cultivation Not a Forest Right, Prioritizes Tiger Habitat
The Supreme Court ruled that commercial crop cultivation cannot be recognized as a forest right under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and cannot justify occupation in protected forest areas. The court emphasized the primacy of critical tiger habitats, specifically citing the Megamalai reserve forest declared as a Tiger Sanctuary. It rejected Tamil Nadu's plea to allow silk cotton cultivation based on historical grounds, stating such cultivation alone does not establish forest rights.
Deccan Herald··Megamalai



