EnvironmentTuesday, 2 June 2026·The Hindu
Supreme Court orders eviction plan for encroachments in Agasthyamalai ecological landscape
The Supreme Court ordered a time-bound eviction plan for encroachments in the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On May 29, 2026, the Supreme Court directed a time-bound eviction plan for encroachments in the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape spanning Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary.
Key specifics
- The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) interim report of July 2025 said the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape covers 3,500.36 square km.
- The Theni district magistrate reported 4,601 encroachers occupying 5,072.653 hectares of reserved forest land.
- Only 1.8% of the total encroached forest land had been reclaimed so far, according to the report.
- The Court identified 118 serving and retired government servants as encroachers and ordered disciplinary and legal action under Rule 3 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1973.
- The bench also referred to 116 government and public utility structures built inside forest lands without prior approval.
Exam lens
TNPSC environment-polity question: Agasthyamalai landscape, 3,500.36 sq km, 4,601 encroachers, Rule 3 of Tamil Nadu Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1973. Expect a match-the-following on tiger reserve, wildlife sanctuary and forest governance.