2020 SC verdict on elephant corridor attains finality: CJI Sanjiv Khanna
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday said its 2020 verdict ordering owners of private properties and resorts to vacate the lands falling in the elephant corridor in the Nilgiris had attained finality.
The top court order underscored its commitment to safeguarding wildlife habitats while addressing objections raised by affected landowners.
However, a bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar allowed the Madras High Court to examine whether an inquiry committee, appointed by the top court, exceeded its scope in addressing objections related to land demarcation and acquisition.
The three-member committee was set up to decide the objections of the private landowners against the decision of the Nilgiris district collector in earmarking land for the elephant corridor under an order of the Tamil Nadu government.
Former Madras High Court judge Justice K Venkatraman, consultant to World Wide Fund for Nature-India Ajay Desai and trustee of Wildlife First and former member of National Board for Wildlife Praveen Bhargava, were part of the inquiry committee.
The top court on October 14, 2020, delivered its verdict on 35 petitions including the ones by Hospitality Association of Mudumalai and actor Mithun Chakraborty against the Madras High Court's judgement.
It upheld the Madras High Court's 2011 decision asking resort owners including actor Chakraborty and private landowners to vacate the land in the elephant corridor and hand over its possession to the authorities.
Disposing of applications questioning various aspects of the judgement, CJI Khanna, who was part of the bench that delivered 2020 verdict, on Friday said, "We clarify that findings recorded... in the judgement dated October 14, 2020 have attained finality.”
The bench took note of the submissions of senior advocate Amit Anand Tiwari, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, saying a time limit must be fixed for adjudication of the matter in the high court or it would linger on for years.
"It will be open for parties to seek early disposal of the case in the high court,” the CJI said.
The top court in 2020 took note of factual objections to the acreage of the elephant corridor as notified by the impugned government order and the following actions taken by the Nilgiris district collector.
The high court had upheld the validity of the Tamil Nadu government 2010 order which notified an elephant corridor in the Sigur Plateau of Nilgiris District and directed resort owners and private landowners to vacate and hand over the possession.
The top court had said the constitutional provisions gave a clear mandate to the state to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
It had asked land and resort owners and others claiming to be aggrieved by the government order and subsequent actions to file objections containing their grievances before the inquiry committee.
The high court had observed that some persons built dwelling houses on their lands whereas some others encroached upon government lands and carried out constructions while other were cultivating the lands falling in the elephant corridor.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
