Implications of Supreme Court order on sacred groves

Source: The post Implications of Supreme Court order on sacred groves has been created, based on the article “What is the Supreme Court directive on sacred groves?” published in “The Hindu” on 6th February 2025.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Environment- Conservation

Context: The article discusses the Supreme Court’s order to map and classify Rajasthan’s sacred groves as forests and community reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act. This contradicts the Forest Rights Act, which grants control of such lands to local gram sabhas for conservation.

For detailed information on Sacred Groves read this article here

What are Sacred Groves and what Are they Important?

1. Definition: Sacred groves are community-protected forest patches, conserved through customs and traditions.
2. Number in India: India has an estimated 1-10 lakh sacred groves, the highest in the world.
3. Names in Different Regions: Known as orans in Rajasthan, devara kadu in Karnataka, sarna in Chota Nagpur, kavu in Kerala, devban in Himachal Pradesh, and devgudi in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
4. Biodiversity and Conservation: They protect unique flora and fauna, support perennial streams, and serve as medicinal plant sources.
5. Environmental Benefits: Help stabilize soil, prevent erosion, and mitigate floods, landslides, and droughts.
6. Cultural and Religious Significance: Communities maintain them through traditions, myths, and local beliefs.

What Are Community Reserves?

1. Definition: Community reserves are protected areas under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) 2002, created on community or private land to conserve fauna, flora, and cultural values.
2. Control and Management: The Chief Wildlife Warden has overall authority, while a Community Reserve Management Committee manages the reserve.
3. Legal Responsibilities: Communities must prevent offenses like wildlife harm, boundary damage, littering, and illegal fires.

What Did the Supreme Court Order on Sacred Groves?

1. The Supreme Court ordered the Rajasthan Forest Department to map all sacred groves using ground and satellite methods.
2. It directed that all groves, regardless of size, be classified as ‘forests’ and notified as ‘community reserves’ under the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA), 1972.
3. The court recommended forming Community Reserve Management Committees with local representatives.
4. It suggested that the Union Environment Ministry map sacred groves nationwide.
5. The order follows T.N. Godavarman v. Union of India, where forests were defined broadly.

What are the implications of this order?

1. Shift of Control: Sacred groves will move from community governance to the Forest Department, reducing community participation in conservation.
2. Conflict with FRA 2006: Under FRA, gram sabhas manage forests, but under WLPA, the Forest Department gains control, limiting community participation.
3. Large-scale Impact: Rajasthan has 25,000 sacred groves covering six lakh hectares, now under official control.
4. Traditional Practices Affected: Community conservation, rooted in beliefs, will be disrupted.
5. Legal Precedence: The court upheld its 2018 directive, enforcing its broad definition of ‘forest land’ under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
6. The Rajasthan government’s Forest Policy 2023 removed earlier protection rules for sacred groves.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the impact of the Supreme Court’s order to classify Rajasthan’s sacred groves as forests and community reserves on local community governance and conservation practices.