Forests can’t be used for non-forestry purposes: SC | “Mission 40+” (Karnataka Education Initiative)

Forests can’t be used for non-forestry purposes: SC

Why in news

• Bench upholds appeal filed by Karnataka government against Gandhi Jeevan Collective Farming Cooperative Society, which wanted extension of lease on 134 acres of forest

Key Highlights

• Ruled by: The Supreme Court of India, via a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
• Ruling: The Court firmly established that forest lands cannot be utilized for non-forestry purposes, explicitly stating that agriculture falls under this prohibition as it essentially requires the clearing of forests.
• Case Background: The judgment upheld an appeal filed by the Karnataka State government against the Gandhi Jeevan Collective Farming Cooperative Society. The society had sought an extension of a lease on 134 acres of forest land, which the Court noted had been “illegally granted” to them for cultivation in the first place.
• Legal Basis: The decision is grounded in Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, which precludes the de-reservation or use of forest land for non-forestry purposes without prior approval from the Central government. The Bench also reiterated a 2000 judgment stating that de-reservation requires Supreme Court permission.
• Directive: The judgment, authored by Justice Sandeep Mehta, directed the State to reclaim the land and repopulate the forest with indigenous trees.
• State Position: The Karnataka government confirmed via affidavit that the disputed lands fell under the category of “forest” and were under the ownership and possession of the State Forest Department.

“Mission 40+” (Karnataka Education Initiative)

Why in news :

• Remedial teaching to improve SSLC results in districts of Kalyana Karnataka region

Mission Overview

• Objective: To improve the SSLC (Class 10) examination results in the seven districts of the Kalyana Karnataka region (e.g., Kalaburagi, Bidar, Raichur)
• Launched by : remedial teaching programme launched by the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB) and the Department of School Education in Karnataka.
• Target: The specific goal is to ensure students pass and to achieve an overall 90% pass result in these districts.
• Special Classes: Conducted from January to March for “slow learners” or students needing extra help.
• Funding: Teachers conducting these classes receive extra honorariums (₹1,000/month), and schools receive funds (₹6,000) to cover student travel expenses.
• Monitoring: Includes home visits for students absent for more than seven days to bring them back to class.

Note : 

• The State government has earmarked ₹3.44 crore for the project, to be borne by the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB).
• In 2024-25, Kalaburagi district ranked last in the results with 41.35% results. Other districts also had poor results- Ballari (50.91%), Bidar (52.3%), Koppal (56.57%), Raichur (50.76%), Vijayapura (66.78%), and Yadgir (59.6%).