Order of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of Centre for Environment Law WWF Vs Union of India & Others dated 05/08/2019 regarding ownership of private forest land, Village Kahardevli in Raigad District, Maharashtra. Report submitted by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on whether the land belonging to the applicant should be returned to him.

The SC notes that on the recommendations of the Government of Maharashtra, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had issued State II approval on 07.05.2007 for non forest use of 4.98 hectares of the private forest land. Further, the CEC report also recommends restoration of 5.03 hectares of forest land in Survey No. 40/2, 42, 43,44,45, 46/1, 47 to 51, 53 & 58 situated inside the applicant's manufacturing plant premises in Village Kahardevli in Raigad District.

The Court directs the land to be restored to the applicant within one month.