Uttarakhand, in consultation with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), must submit a plan for the restoration of Corbett Tiger Reserve in two months, the Supreme Court said. File
| Photo Credit: Rajeev Bhatt
The Supreme Court on Monday (November 17, 2025) directed the State of Uttarakhand to repair the ecological damage caused to the Corbett Tiger Reserve through illegal tree-felling and unauthorised constructions in sensitive areas.
There is an ongoing Central Bureau of Investigation into the felling of nearly 3,000 trees in the reserve.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, in a judgment, ordered the demolition of all unauthorised constructions identified by the expert committee within three months. The Court said the State, in consultation with the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), must submit a plan for the restoration of Corbett Tiger Reserve in two months.
“Uttarakhand has to restore the ecological damage caused to Corbett Reserve under the supervision, guidance and control of the CEC,” the Court ordered.
Issuing guidelines on the permissible activities along the buffer and fringe areas of tiger reserves, the Court recommended States with tiger populations to frame conservation plans, bring reserves under the management of the field directors, look into the permissibility of resorts located within the close proximity of reserve areas, take steps to control noise pollution around these areas and shift to electric-powered vehicles for safaris.
The Supreme Court was hearing an application filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, who had flagged the illegal felling of approximately 3,000 trees in the Corbett Tiger Reserve without requisite permissions, and the construction of permanent structures in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act and the Forest (Conservation) Act.
Published – November 17, 2025 12:56 pm IST
