ISSUE:
Whether large-scale unauthorized and illicit felling of trees in government and council forests violated the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, and required immediate intervention to safeguard forest resources?
Whether the proliferation and unregulated operation of wood-based industries in the North-Eastern states contributed to forest degradation and needed stricter regulatory measures, including relocation and compliance with sustainable forest management practices?
Whether the state governments and enforcement agencies failed to ensure compliance with existing forest laws, necessitating enhanced monitoring and enforcement frameworks?
RULE:
Public Trust Doctrine: Forests are public assets held in trust by the state, requiring their conservation for the benefit of present and future generations.
Sustainable Development Principle: Economic activities, including timber trade and industries, must align with environmental protection and sustainable forest management practices.