Forest rest houses can't be transferred to private entities on PPP, says SC

A night in a jungle experience provided to tourists in rest houses and bungalows situated inside forests will now be a thing of the past. The Supreme Court on Thursday framed guidelines by which no forest rest houses or inspection bungalows inside protected area can be used to promote tourism or be transferred to private or commercial entities in the name of public private partnership (PPP).

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta accepted the guidelines framed in this regard by a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) assisting the Court on environmental matters. The guidelines came after the Court came across instances of misuse of rest houses in the country.

While this order is aimed to retain these old buildings, of which many are heritage buildings, the Court intended to reserve its use only for forest officers who are required to camp inside forests to discharge their duties connected with conservation, protection and management of forests and wildlife.

The bench further maintained that the control of forest rest houses, including their reservation, shall under all circumstances remain with the forest department. However, the district administration, in special circumstances can for a limited period be granted priority reservation of rooms in these forest rest houses, the order said. But in no circumstances, the control of these houses can be taken over by the district administration, the bench added.

The Court directed Centre to circulate a copy of its order to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of all states and ensure compliance.

The body of the guidelines state, “Forest rest houses/inspection bungalows located within the forest area including the protected areas shall not be transferred to private and commercial entities in the name of public-private partnership or by whatever name such an arrangement is called, for promotion of any form of tourism including eco-tourism,” it said.