Hyderabad: Telangana high court has delivered a stern warning to the revenue department, making it clear that revenue authorities have no role in forest lands and cannot issue pattas or interfere in such areas, irrespective of political pressure or executive directions.Stressing that forest lands enjoy legal protection and fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of the forest department, the court said it would not permit any unauthorised encroachment or distribution of titles in protected forest areas.“Even if the office of the highest authority in the executive says give forest land, we will not agree,” Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti observed, making it clear that pressure from MLAs, MPs or ministers cannot override the legal protection granted to forests.The observations were made on Sept 18 while hearing a petition filed by nine farmers from Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district, who challenged the forest department’s move to dispossess them from 44 acres of farmland in Rajaram village of Sirpur (Tandur) mandal.The petitioners, who claimed to possess pattadar passbooks and patta certificates, contended that they and their families had been cultivating the land for decades and depended on it for their livelihood.During the hearing, Justice Anil Kumar reiterated that district administrations and collectors have no authority over forest lands. Emphasising strict compliance with Supreme Court guidelines governing forest areas, the judge said forest lands fall exclusively within the domain of the forest department and that revenue officials have no jurisdiction to intervene in such matters.The court also expressed concern over instances of revenue authorities granting pattas in reserved forest areas and remarked that it would never entertain litigation or pass orders that run contrary to rulings of the apex court.Taking note of the circumstances surrounding the dispute, the bench summoned the district collector to appear through a video conference. Further, taking note of collector’s submissions, the judge directed the collector to file comprehensive report in the matter and adjourned the matter to Oct 16 for further hearing.Expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of coordination between revenue and forest authorities, the court underlined the need for structured engagement between collectors and district forest officers to ensure effective protection of forest lands and prevent jurisdictional conflicts.
