The Maharashtra government has decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its recent verdict that mandates the classification of zudpi jungle land in Vidarbha as forest land under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The move was announced by Forest Minister Ganesh Naik during a session of the state assembly on Friday.
The Supreme Court’s judgment, delivered on May 22, reaffirmed its earlier 1996 order which expanded the definition of forest land to include not just areas meeting the dictionary definition of forests, but also those recorded as forest in official government records. This broad definition has major implications for large tracts of zudpi land—largely shrub forests—in eastern Maharashtra.
Raising the issue in the assembly, Congress legislator Nana Patole warned that the judgment could stall crucial development activities across the region. “No such land can be redeveloped after this verdict. The state failed to make its case properly before the court, and now we are left to deal with the consequences,” he said, urging the government to seek a review.
Minister Naik acknowledged the concerns and assured the House that the state would pursue legal recourse. “Despite the central government’s different stance, the apex court issued the ruling. To address the situation, we will file a review petition,” he said.
The announcement comes amid contrasting reactions from within the government. On the day of the verdict, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had hailed the judgment as a “big relief” for Vidarbha. According to Fadnavis, the ruling provided clarity that land parcels granted before 1996 are exempt from forest classification, and a process has been established for acquiring post-1996 lands from the Centre.
The state now faces the challenge of balancing environmental conservation obligations with the region’s long-standing development needs. The review petition is expected to seek clarity on land use rights and exemptions in order to avoid disruptions to infrastructure and livelihood projects in Vidarbha.
