Objections sought in land conversion case

BANGALORE: The High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department and directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the State Government to file objections within a week regarding the conversion of 88 acres of forest land into government land in Talguppa and Karehalli village of Shimoga district.The petitioner Virendra R Patil, in his submission stated that Forest Department has not gone according to rules. They should take permission from the Union Government. But without taking the permission, they acquired the forest land in Talguppa (Sy No 20) and Karehalli  villages (Sy No 85) in Shimoga district, he contended.The court, on July 13, had issued notices to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the State Government on the issue. However, none of them filed the objections on Tuesday.  Acting Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice A S Bopanna issued notices again and  asked them to file objections within a week.