With reference to the Supreme Court's December 2024 judgment on Orans and sacred groves, consider the following statements: 1. The Court ruled that the classification of a sacred grove as a forest is strictly dependent on it having a minimum area of 5 hectares. 2. The Court recommended declaring these sacred groves as Community Reserves under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 3. The judgment mandates the creation of a 5-member execution committee headed by the Union Minister of Environment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

Accepted Answer

B. 2 only — Statement 1 is incorrect: The Court ruled that classification should focus solely on ecological and cultural significance, not size or extent. Statement 2 is correct: The Court recommended protection under Section 36-C of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Statement 3 is incorrect: The 5-member committee is to be headed by a retired High Court judge, not the Union Environment Minister.

Supreme Court Orders Protection of Orans and Sacred Groves

First Monthly PLFS Bulletin Released by MoSPI