Judgment of the High Court of Uttarakhand in the matter of Suo Motu PIL: In the matter of illegal construction In Corbett Tiger Reserve Vs Union of India & Others dated 06/09/2023.

Uttarakhand High Court directs CBI to conduct investigation into the matter of illegal constructions and tree felling in Corbett national park.

The High Court order mentioned the Central Empowered Committee report, 2023 filed by Satyaprakash Singh, Deputy Secretary, Forest Department mentioned that the principal culprit in the illegal construction of roads and buildings infrastructure is the then DFO Kalagarh with dubious past of committing similar irregularities has been hand-picked by the then Forest Minister to be posted to Kalagarh Forest Division and that too without a recommendation from the PCCF and Civil Services Board". The report went on to say that massive legal and financial fraud has been committed within a short period of posting Kishan Chand to Kalagarh Forest Division.

Further, the report added that the then Forest Minister was instrumental in the planning and execution of illegal and unauthorised roads and buildings within the Corbett Tiger Reserve and in the Lansdowne Division.