Forest officials, including retires officers pay off in securing forest lands

The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Telangana government, securing 102 acres of forest land in Sahebnagar Kalan. Retired officer K Buchi Rami Reddy and others were praised for exposing fabricated documents and helping the forest department win the prolonged legal battle

Hyderabad: Despite prolonged legal battles and many challenges, teamwork put in by officials, including retired officers, helped the forest department secure 102 acres in Sahebnagar Kalan village under the Gurramguda Reserve Forest.

The department had filed a special petition in the Supreme Court over the disputed lands. A few private individuals claimed ownership of the lands.

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After detailed hearings for over three days, the Supreme Court delivered the verdict in the State government’s favour. The apex court affirmed that the disputed land of 102 acres in survey No. 201/1 of Sahebnagar Kalan village, which forms part of the Gurramguda Reserve Forest, was government land and managed as forest land, officials said.

At a press conference on Monday, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Suvarna specially appreciated 95-year-old retired Chief Conservator of Forests K Buchi Rami Reddy for his commitment and assistance.

The individuals claiming ownership had submitted fabricated documents written in Urdu and dating back many years. The retired officer, who was educated in Urdu, read the documents and raised a flag.

Following this, the forest department approached the State Archives department. After verifying, the Archives department declared that during the dates mentioned in the document, communication was in Persian language and not in Urdu. This proved that it was a fabricated document, DFO D Sudhakar Reddy said, adding that the same point was stressed in the Supreme Court.

The PCCF felicitated all the 12 officials, including retired officers such as D Nagabhushanam, for their commitment in fighting the prolonged legal battle and securing the forest lands.