2023 changes. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023 (No. 15 of 2023) renamed the Act and inserted Section 1A, which describes the land covered: land declared or notified as forest, and land recorded in government records as forest on or after 25 October 1980 (with a proviso for certain changes of use made on or before 12 December 1996).
Court position. The amendment is under challenge in the Supreme Court. By an interim order in February 2024, the Court directed that, pending the States' identification exercise and the proceedings, the principles in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad (1996) must continue to be observed. See both records in this library.
Amendments and related instruments
Amended by Act 15 of 2023. Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Amendment Rules, 2024 and consolidated guidelines are on India Code and PARIVESH.