In the wake of the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) of Bengaluru Circle dismissing the appeal by Adichunchanagiri Mutt and upholding the order of the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), who had issued eviction order against the mutt for encroaching upon 7.35 acres of forestland, the National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) and Jan Sangram Parishat (JSP) has demanded immediate government action.
Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, founder president of NCPNR S.R. Hiremath said that in the order passed on December 19, 2014 the Appellate Authority and CCF S. Shanthappa had dismissed the appeal filed by counsels on behalf of the mutt and Principal of SJB College, Mailasandra, Kengeri Hobli.
In his order dated August 29, 2009, on FOC (Forest Offence Case) No. 168 & 170/ 06-07, the Assistant Conservator of Forest, Bengaluru South Subdivision, had observed that the mutt had encroached upon 7.35 acres of forestland at Turahalli Reserve Forest in Kengeri Hobli of Bengaluru South Taluk and had issued eviction order. However, the seer of the mutt Nirmalanandanath Swami (who was named successor after the demise of Sri Bal Gangadharnath Swami) and Principal Prof. Puttaraju had filed an appeal against the order, which has now been dismissed by the CCF, Mr. Hiremath said.
Mr. Hiremath said that as two other FOCs against the mutt were pending before the respective authorities, it was high-time the State government took some decisive steps to clear encroachments over the forestland. And since the mutt was likely to appeal against the CCF’s order, the government should enforce the rule of law by vigorously defending the eviction order passed by the CCF.
Recalling that it was only after the Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) filed an Interlocutory Application in the High Court of Karnataka that the government took the encroachment by the mutt seriously, Mr. Hiremath said that the organisations would be forced to approach the court again if the government exhibited complicity.
