Environmentalist Anil Joshi’s troubles have increased! Another major revelation has come to light
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A major controversy has once again erupted in Uttarakhand regarding forest land and environmental protection. RTI activist and advocate Vikesh Singh Negi has made a revelation that raises serious questions about administrative procedures and exposes illegal encroachment under the guise of environmental protection. He has leveled serious allegations against Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi, a recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, for alleged illegal encroachment and improper leasing of Sal forest land in the East Hope Town area of Dehradun.
Encroachment on Sal Forest under the guise of ‘Environmental Protection’!
Currently, a building belonging to the HESCO NGO stands on this forest land. The RTI activist has declared this building illegal, citing a blatant violation of constitutional, legal, and judicial provisions. He has demanded the immediate cancellation of the leases granted in 2011 to Dr. Anil Prakash Joshi and others, the demolition of the illegal structure, and action against the officials involved.
Complaint filed with the Chief Secretary and District Magistrate
Advocate Vikesh Singh Negi has sent a detailed report on this entire matter to the Chief Secretary of the Uttarakhand government, the Revenue Secretary, and the District Magistrate of Dehradun. The report states that the allocation of land recorded under account number 02493, plot number 384/1, with a total area of 0.1170 hectares, in 2011 was completely illegal.
NGO building declared illegal
According to the report, a permanent building of the HESCO NGO currently stands on the land that is recorded as “Sal forest or forest land” in government records. It is alleged that the forest land was used for non-forest purposes in the name of environmental protection.
Leasing of forest land after 1946 is illegal
The RTI activist has cited several Supreme Court and High Court judgments that clearly state that the government has no right to grant leases on forest land after August 8, 1946. All leases granted after this date are considered void ab initio, i.e., null and void from the beginning. Based on this, the allocation made in 2011 is also legally invalid.
Central Government Permission Required Under Forest Conservation Rules
According to Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, permission from the Central Government is required before using any forest land for non-forest purposes. The report states that in this case, neither permission for change of land use was obtained, nor was any approval from the Central Government shown for the construction of the building or the operation of the NGO. On this basis, a demand has been made to declare the entire construction illegal.
Reference to Supreme Court Order
The report also refers to the landmark T.N. Godavarman vs. Union of India case and the Supreme Court order passed on May 15, 2025, which clearly states that land recorded as “forest,” “jungle,” “scrub,” or “Sal forest” in the revenue records will be considered forest land. Furthermore, any lease or allotment on such land will be considered illegal.
Three Major Demands
RTI activist Vikesh Singh Negi has put forward three demands to the administration. First, that the leases granted in 2011 be immediately cancelled. Second, that the HESCO NGO building be declared illegal and demolished. Third, that legal action be taken against the officials involved in this entire matter.
Warning of Approaching the Supreme Court
The activist said that if action is not taken in a timely manner, he will approach the Supreme Court in this matter. He said that this is not just a land dispute, but a matter related to the Constitution, Supreme Court orders, and the credibility of environmental protection. A large number of encroachments are taking place on forest land and reserved forest land in Dehradun. As a result, the environment of the Doon Valley has deteriorated, and pollution is continuously increasing.
