May 2011 VANA PREMI

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Vol .12 MAY - 2011 No. 5

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION

45OF RETIRED FOREST OFFICERS
ANDHRA PRADESH
May 2011 VANA PREMI
VANA PREMI
Vol : 12 May 2011 No. 5

Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan Associate Editor : Sardar Navratan Singh

The Association of Retired Forest Officers, Contents
Andhra Pradesh(Regd. No. 557/1990)
1. Condolence Message 2
President : Sri. S.D. Mukherji, I.F.S. (Retd.)
2. Editorial ..................... QMK 3
Tel : 23551065, 9885236493
3. Letters to Editor
Vice President : Sri. Krishna Bhoopal Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.)
........................................Surinder Kumar Bali 5
Tel : 23743774, 9866307808
Secretary : Sri K. Santokh Singh, I.F.S. (Retd.) ............................... ............... P.S. Reddy 5
Tel : 27962929, 9848808101 ............................................. Dr. Maslekar 5
Jt. Secretary : Sri. P. Upender Reddy, Dy. C.F.(Retd.) 4. Reorganization of Forest
Cum Treasurer Tel. 23342582, 9848754778 Department Some Observations
Excutive committee members of the Past Systems
............................. K.K. Nair 6
1. Sri C. Subba Rao, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9848018796
5. Lure of the Himalayas -IIVisit to
2. Sri T. Rama Krishna, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9849180078
3. Sri M. Padmanabha Reddy, I.F.S. (Retd.), 9849269105 Uttarkashi Region-Yamunotri
4. Sri J.V. Subba Rao, 9848486146 and Gangotri.............M. Kamal Naidu 7
5. Sri A. V. Govinda Rajulu, 9440764611 6. Saxena Committee : Implementation
of Forest Rights Act ; Agencies
Editoriral Board that Matter (Part - II)
1. President : Ex-Officio President of Assn. ..........................J.V. Sharma 14
2. Editor : Qamar Mohd. Khan 7. Call of the Chola Country
Tel : 40121132, 9849233624
..................................Navratan Singh 22
e-mail : qamar_asima@yahoo.com
8. Seizure an Oil Tanker
3. Associate
Editor : Sardar Navratan Singh, ........................ V. Santhaseela Babu 29
: Tel : 23340585 9. Roll of Honour .......... K.B.R. 33
4. Member : A.H. Qureshi, IFS (Retd.) 10. Money is yours but resources
5. Convenor : Ex-officio Secy.of Assn belong to the society 34
11. THE “RELEVANCE OF GANDHISM”
TARIFF RATES FOR ADVERTISEMENTS
IN THE 21st CENTURY
Back side of front and last cover page
(Colour) for one year ...................................... Rs. 20,000/- ..........................V.V. Hari Prasad 35
Outer Cover half (Colour) for one year ........... Rs. 15,000/- 12. News and Notes ....... 39
Inner Center Spread (Colour) for one year .... Rs. 20,000/- 13. Birthday Greetings ... S.K. 40
Inner full page (B&W) for one year .............. Rs. 15,000/-
14. Legal Notes ............... K.B.R. 41
Inner half page (B&W) for one year .............. Rs. 10,000/-
Inner full page One Time (B&W) ....................... Rs. 2000/- 15. Obituary (T. Rama Krishna) 44
Inner half page One Time (B&W) ...................... Rs. 1500/- Totla pages 44
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May 2011 VANA PREMI

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE
It was shocking news to hear that
Sri T. Ramakrishna, IFS (Retd.), has left for
heavenly abode on the evening of 11.4.2011. A
condolence meeting was held in the O/o The
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF)
at Aranya Bhavan on 13.4.2011 presided over
by Sri C. Madhukar Raj, IFS, Prl. Chief
Conservator of Forests (HoFF). All the officers
and staff working in Aranya Bhavan attended
the meeting. Prl. Chief Conservator of Forests
(HoFF) remembered the services rendered by late
Sri T. Ramakrishna,IFS (Retd.) to the Forest
Department particularly his contribution to the
Wildlife Wing and development of Nehru
Zoological park, Hyderabad, which has become
a model Zoo park in the Country. As a mark of
respect to the departed soul, two minutes
silence was observed.
May God give strength to his wife and children
to bear this loss.
Sd/-
P.S.Rao Addl.Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests(Admn.)
O/o Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests(HoFF) Andhra
Pradesh, Hyderabad.

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May 2011
EDITORIAL
Our population: - India’s population was
31, 60, 04, 000 in early forties when the present
day Pakistan and Bangladesh were parts of the
country. The total geographical area of our
country before partition was 42, 27,358 Square
Kilometers. The land area was optimal to
accommodate the population comfortably and
its distribution was more or less even. There
were enough natural resources to meet the
needs of the country. It was this scenario which
prompted Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the
Nation to comment “There is every thing for
man’s need but not for his greed”. Though the
poverty, illiteracy and backwardness were very
much evident, the Mahatma saw a bright future
for the country considering it as a land of plenty.
Much water flowed down the rivers of India since
then. The country is divided at the time of
Independence. Gandhiji’s dreams started
shattering one by one. The simplicity which was
the hallmark of Gandhiji’s philosophy became
the first casualty. Self discipline in conduct and
values in public life became rare commodities.
Now India is the seventh largest country in the
world in size, with a total geographical area of
3,287,263 square kilometers. But the population
of our country was steadily increasing. Every year,
India adds to world population more people than
any other nation. In fact the population of some
of our states is much higher than the total
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population of many countries. For example,
Population of Uttar Pradesh almost equals to the
population of Brazil. India is projected to
overtake China as the world's most populous
country by 2025. India's population growth has
given rise to serious concerns of widespread
unemployment, social conflicts and political
instability. The population projections up to
2050 are:
) 2020: 1,326,093,000
) 2030: 1,460,743,000
) 2040: 1,571,715,000
) 2050: 1,656,554,000
India’s population as per 2011 census is
1,210,000,000, more than a sixth of the world's
population.and it is the second largest
populated country next only to China whose
population is 1,330,044,605 (as of mid-2008).
India is projected to be the world's most
populous country by 2025, surpassing China.
India occupies 2.4% of the world's land area but
supports over 17.5% of the world's population.
India has more arable land area than any country
except the United States, and more water area
than any country except Canada and the United
States. Indian life revolves mostly around
agriculture and allied activities in small villages,
where the overwhelming majority of Indians
live. As per the 2001 census, 72.2% of the
population lives in about 638,000 villages and
May 2011 VANA PREMI

the remaining 27.8% lives in more than 5,100
towns and over 380 urban agglomerations. In last
60 years the Indian population has grown from
316004,000 to 1,210,000,000, almost four times,
and if the population of other two parts of pre-
Independence era is also taken into account the
increase will be 6 times. Though the population
of our country had increased abnormally, the land
area remained the same and the natural
resources have dwindled down drastically
attributable mainly to man’s greed.
If we take the increase of the population into
account the available natural resources will not
be sufficient to meet even for our own needs. As
foresters we know very well that every area will
have its carrying capacity and if the population
of human beings exceeds the carrying capacity
of the area, it may give rise to several
disturbances not excluding earth quakes,
tsunamis, droughts, floods diseases and other
natural calamities. Recent calamity in Japan is a
case in point.
There is an urgent need for us to educate our
masses about the perils of over-population. It
is also essential for us to change our mindset
on family welfare and devise ways to control
population. Population is no longer an
individual’s domain. It has assumed the status
of “challenge” to Nation. We must be prepared
to think of even punitive action in case of
violation of guidelines in this regard. Population
explosion cannot be taken lightly in the name
of populism and firm action is the need of the
hour. It is high time to shift away from the slogan
“Hum do, hamare do” to adopt a new
slogan“Hum do, hamara ek”. We need at least to
stabilize our population urgently even if we
cannot reduce it immediately. If we fail to
achieve this, we may have to pay very price..
Our Governments should offer good incentives
providing free education, subsidized food,
clothing, and housing for all those parents who
follow "Hum Do Hamara Ek".
-QMK

APPEAL
All the members are requested to furnish their addresses, Mobile &
Landline Phone Numbers and e-mail IDs urgently by post/sms/ or
e-mail to P.Upender Reddy on the following address
P.Upender Reddy, 2/B, P.S.Nagar Colony, Vijay Nagar Colony,
Hyderabad-500 057. Mobile Number... 9848754778.
e-mail Id. upenderpulimamidi@hotmail.com Secretary
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May 2011 VANA PREMI

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

1. To, The Editor, Vana Premi
Sir,
My Salutations! I was happy to go through your latest electronic issue of Vana Premi. Apart from other
articles such as comments on Forest Bill one interesting article by my batch mate Sri. Kamal Naidu on his
visit to Himalayas made quite an interesting reading which I also made it on my own few years back. I am
happy to note that you are keeping your means of communications alive amongst the retired forest
officers. We too in Maharashtra had started, perhaps earlier than your magazine, but unfortunately it
had to close down for some reasons. May I wish you all a very happy reading in years to come. My good
wishes to all the members of the esteemed magazine Vana Premi.
With regards,
SURINDER KUMAR BALI

2. Sir,
Veteran forest officer Mr. Mukherji's article "Visit to Gir National park” is very interesting, which has
invoked my memory to retrieve the 33 year old visit to the same park along with the 1st.batch of P.G.
diploma in wildlife management course(1977-78)F.R.I. Dehradun. Whereas our visit was in a minibus
consisting of (11) trainees and one Director, was piloted by a park jeep. On reaching the lion's resting
place a rope was tied to the two trees about 10 meters apart. Uniformed F.G. with a gun was standing at
one end and we were asked not to cross the rope and take snaps etc. as the entire pride of lions on the
other side of the rope comprising 3 generations similar to Hindu joint-family were giving us pose. They
were more than a dozen in no and were gazing us as if the authorities have asked them to receive the
visitors.
While returning we were curios to know the secret of their congregation. In the pilot's jeep a country pig
was hidden as bait which was making distress calls intermittently. It was learned after the departure of
the visitors the pig was fed to the lions. Such acts in the National parks make the wild animals domesticated
and the thrill of the visitors defeated. It would be synonymous to Zoo's, probably the reason for dwindling
their population is due to the in-breeding and artificial feeding habit.
P.S.Reddy.

3. Dear Editor,

Thanks. I received e-mail version of April 11 issue of Vanapremi. But I sincerely miss the feel and touch of
magazine and freshness of the printing ink emanating there from it,and the wonderful photos on
cover.At my age it is also a punishment to read longer texts on my laptop. Have you discontinued Paper
version of the mag? By the way how is my subscription status? Please let me know.
Regards, Dr.Maslekar

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May 2011
REORGANIZATION OF FOREST DEPARTMENT
SOME OBSERVATIONS OF THE PAST SYSTEMS
By
K.K. Nair
The article “The reorganization of Forest
Department is the need of the day” by Sri Suresh
Deshpanday in January Vana Premi has
prompted me, an old timer, to think about some
older aspects and offer some suggestions. Mainly
increase in the higher posts, changing the
structure of staff pattern from a pyramidal nature
to that of an inverted pyramid has not effectively
improved the functioning of the department, in
which field work, is of considerable importance
to manage and protect the forests.
Thinning plantations, check measurement of
roads and building works, fire protection,
boundary inspections, timber extraction,
checking of timber depots, checking illicit
felling, survey of coupes and compartments
were the responsibility of higher officers like
Assistant Conservators attached to heavy
divisions like Nilambur, Wynad, South
Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, Nellore etc.
In olden days, to ensure inspections of field
operations were assured by stipulating, that
officers should tour for fifteen days a month, halts
should exceed marches etc. Over the years such
regulations are not implemented, adversely
affecting the quality of field operations. To make
sure that office work did not suffer, files used to
be sent from officers headquarters to camps
through a peon or watcher in “Combino Box
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Trays” which could be locked at headquarters and
opened in the camp by having double set of
keys. Generally field work used to be done by
Officers in the fore noon and after some rest, the
files were attended to in the evening, or early
nights after, dinner using petromax, lanterns or
Syntax table lamps. Since many rest houses and
inspection bungalow did not have electricity.
Next morning the combino box tray used to be
sent back to the office, after dealing with the
files through the peon or watcher who brought
it from head quarters. Thus it was ensured that
both field work and office work did not suffer.
Inspection notes of Conservators and tour
diaries of Divisional Forest Officers had to be sent
to their higher officers promptly which were
reviewed. In early years inspection notes of the
Conservators were printed and formed the basis
for revision of working plans.
There is no doubt that lower categories of field
staff should be increased and provided with
better facilities for work and stay in their
jurisdiction., The recent proposal to arm the staff
in the sanctuaries and areas where poaching or
timber theft are rampant should be suitably
armed, trained and with authority to use these
against marauders.
Contd. on page no. 32
May 2011
LURE OF THE HIMALAYAS -II
VISIT TO UTTARKASHI REGION-YAMUNOTRI
AND GANGOTRI
By
M. Kamal Naidu
After having seen the indescribable beauty and
serenity of the Himalayas in May 1964 and ‘65, as
described in the last issue of ‘Vana Premi’ my
thirst for more of the Himalayan glory was
uncontrollable. I therefore planned a trip to the
western sector of the ‘Char Dham’ Gangotri and
Yamnotri at the prompting of my batch-mate
Shri KN Singh, who had been the DFO Uttarkashi,
prior to his posting as DFO Dehra Dun. He had
suggested that if possible I should combine a
trip to Har-ki-dun valley, a remote high altitude
meadow, criss-crossed by glacial streams, and
surrounded by pristine forests and snowy peaks;
and the river Tons of our Chakrata fame emanates
from there. Mention of Tons river takes my
memory go back to the famous Thadiyar March
as part of a foresters first Chakrata tour, where
foresters are shaped into the profession with the
29 km trek up from Katiyan to 9000ft, and down
to Tons bridge at Thadiyar at 3000ft, and back to
our camp at Katiyan at 6000ft. I therefore planned
out the hill trip around Uttarkashi for late August,
with the new batch of only five trainees. In this
trip my family did not join because of my sons
classes, further being closer to Dehra Dun I
thought it could be done again the following
summer.
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Day 1: We started of from Dehra Dun in two
ambassador taxis, with our ever-ready father and
son Sardars, ready for all eventualities of rough
and impossible routes. Leaving FRI we went upto
Mussoorie, and proceeded on to the famous
Kempty falls just 15km out. The water of the falls
joins the Yamuna. This is a very popular sight for
all visitors to Mussoorie, and draws large crowd
particular after raining season. The falls was very
impressive, roaring with frightful fury, being in
the midst of the rainy season. We went on
towards Lakhmandal, 75 km away up along the
Yamuna, a lovely journey set among deodar
forests. This place had an ancient temple
complex, featuring interesting statues, and a
‘sikhara’ style temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
built in stone. We proceeded further on towards
Barkot, 220 km from Haridwar, for our first night
stay.
Day 2: Early morning after a heavy breakfast and
a packed lunch we crossed the Yamuna for
Purola, and thence forward to Mori (1130m) on
the Tons river, the chir pine zone, and saw the
Tons rapidly winding its way to the plains. Here
the FRO informed us the interesting legendary
background of the Tons river as being a part of
May 2011
the Jaunsar-Bawar region. Interestingly Tons is
said to have originated from the tears of the
demoness Surpanaka, sister of Ravana after
being insulted by Lakshmana of Ramayana. He
further said that it was very interesting the
people of this region between the Tons and
Yamuna worship Duryodhana, who was
considered the villain of the Mahabharata, the
arch enemy of the Pandavas, and that there was
a beautifully carved wooden temple dedicated
to him at a nearby village named Jakhol, to which
we could not make it. He had asked us to see a
temple also dedicated to Karna, an ally of
Duryodhana at Netwar (1400m) on our way to
Sankri via Osla (2560m). He concluded very
philosophically that it was the Hindu dharma to
give safe haven to the downtrodden. He also told
us about the interesting prevalence of polygamy
and polyandry in the matrimonial custom of the
region, relating it to the Pandava legend. This
practice was thus prevalent in Chakrata region,
and so our instructor Mr. Kirpekar warned us to
beware lest we get ensnared into the system
and never return back to Dehra Dun.
We drove beyond Sankri as far as the Sardarji
drivers could take us towards Har-ki-Dun. At the
furthest point possible by the car, the forest
guard of the area decided we start trekking up.
He suggested that we go as far as we can towards
our destination at 3570m. We walked up for
about three hours enjoying the gorgeous,
beautiful scenic surrounds of deodar, spruce and
fir mixed with oaks and rhododendrons and
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merging into snowy meadows with wild flowers,
though not so spectacular as the Valley of
Flowers, but it had its own grandeur, and was
mesmerizing. This area is now declared as
Govind Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. At
this stage the forest guard stated that most of
the terrain thereafter would be similar, with the
tree growth gradually stunting and giving way
to the meadow. This was a new experience for
the trainees on their first visit to the snow areas
and the mountains, for they were from Kerala,
Tamilnadu, Andhra, Madhya Pradesh and
Maharastra, all having been trained at SFRC. We
observed and enjoyed the smell of the mountain
air, the surrounding snow capped mountains, the
rivulets meeting to form the Tons. We retraced
back to the vehicles for our late cold packed
lunch, and got back to Barkot for the night.
Day 3: We started a little leisurely from Barkot
having decided to halt at Janki Chatti, about half
way between Hanuman Chatti and Yamunotri.
We traveled up the very difficult winding route
along the Yamunotri to Hanuman Chatti, at the
confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna. This
is where Hanuman was said to have set his foot
after leaving Sri Lanka, before starting on his
search for procuring the medicinal herbs for
Lakshman. There was nothing spectacular at this
place for Hanumanji, to commemorate the
event of his safe landing, probably he landed very
softly, and never left his footprint. I wish he had
left his footprint, for it is said that he had crushed
‘Sani’ or Saturn under his feet, and kept him
May 2011
under control. It is for this belief that we are told
not to worship Hanumanji’s feet, probably
fearing the ‘sani’ tries to escape and catch hold
of the person who so worships, and puts him to
the long rigor of a troublesome period. However
greater attachment and remembrance went
here for Surpanaka’s tears having become the
source of river Tons, her gift to the region. I for a
moment wondered why Surpanaka had come
here for shedding her tears, after having been
severely punished by Lakshmana at Paranasala
on the bank of Godavari near Bhadrachallam.
May be to start off the Tons. Probably it was a
question of loyalties. However there is a small,
rather insignificant temple, to commemorate
the place for Hanumanji. We then proceeded on
some distance till the cars could go, and then
footed the 8 km to Janki Chatti for the night halt.
Day 4: Early morning we trekked upto to
Yamunotri walking amidst high ridges, deep
gorges and precipitous cliffs, rocky craggy
glaciers and narrow valleys characteristic of the
area. In this travel starting from Mori, we saw a
high variation in the elevation gradients from
1,800 to 4,500m, which reflected the diverse
biomes, from sub-tropical communities to
alpine meadows, ending up to a rather plain
looking temple of Goddess Yamunotri. There was
not much of forestry, but the scenic grandeur and
the changing vegetation from chir pine at Mori
to deodar, spruce and fir was of special
significance to the trainees, culminating into
meadows at the snowy heights.
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Nearing the temple on the right bank of the river,
we visited Markendeya Tirtha, where the sage
Markandeya is believed to have written the
‘Markandeya Purana’.
The Yamuna, the second most sacred river,
rushed down from the frozen glaciers ahead of
the impressive Kalinda Parvat (4430m), on the
south-western slopes of Banderpooch (Monkeys
tail, maybe refers to Hanuman) peaks, in the
Mussoorie range of Lower Himalayas. Yumana is
therefore named here as Kalindi, which forms
the backdrop of ‘Krishna Leela’, which talk about
her water being of the dark blue colour of Lord
Krishna. Yamuna finally merges with the Ganges
at ‘Triveni sangam’ at Allahabad.
In Hindu mythology, according to popular
legends Yamuna is the daughter of Sun God Surya
and his wife Saranyu, and sister of Yama, the God
of Death, and so known as Yami. Bathing in its
sacred waters is said to free one from the
torments of death.
Yamunotri literally means "twins" in sanskrit, as
it runs parallel to the Ganga. Its name is
mentioned at many places in the Rig Veda,
written during the Vedic Period between 1700–
1100 BC, and also in the later ‘Atharvaveda’, and
in the ‘Brahmanas’ including ‘Aitreya Brahmana’
and ‘Shatapartha Brahmana’.
In Rig Veda, the story of the Yamuna describes
her "excessive love" for her twin Yama, who in
turn asks her to find a suitable match for herself,
which she does in Lord Krishna. This tale is
May 2011
detailed in the 16th century Sanskrit hymn,
‘Yamunashtakam’, an ode by philosopher
Vallabhacharya, which describes the story of
Yamuna’s descent to meet her beloved Krishna,
to purify the world. This hymn praises her for
being the source of all ‘spiritual abilities’, while
Ganga is considered an epitome of ‘asceticism
and higher knowledge’, and can grant ‘Moksha’
or liberation. It is Yamuna, which being a holder
of infinite love and compassion, and grants
freedom from death, which is in the realm of her
elder brother. Therefore the river Yamuna is
connected to the religious beliefs surrounding
Krishna, and various stories connected with Him
found in Hindu mythology, especially the
‘Puranas’, like that of ‘Kaliya’, a poisonous Naga
snake, which had inhabited the river and
terrorized the people of ‘Braja’. Incidentally in
Mahabharata, Indraprastha, the capital of
Pandava was also situated on the banks of
Yamuna, which is the modern city of Delhi.
At Yamunotri we were told that the place was
considered as the source of the famed
mythological Vedic Saraswati River in the ancient
past, which was ‘the cradle of early Indian
civilizations’. The rivers constituting Saraswati
were collectively known as ‘Sapta Sindhu’ or
seven streams. Saraswati changed its course
following a tectonic upheaval in north India, and
became a tributary of the Ganges. It is believed
that after this upheaval the original Saraswati
river dried up, and so also the many settlements
of the Indus Valley civilization ended, and
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resulted in the creation of the present Thar
desert.
Yamunotri temple is dedicated to the goddess
Yamuna, one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism,
and part of the popular Char Dham Yatra. At
Yamunotri, worship is normally done after taking
bath in the warm springs of Jamunabai kund at
the ‘Divya Shila’, a rock pillar near the temple,
before entering the temple for ‘darshan’ of
"Yamunaji". This place did not draw so much of
crowds as Kedarnath and Badrinath, probably
due to inaccessibility, than divinity. Here there
were several hot thermal springs around the
temple, which flow into numerous pools, the
most important being ‘Surya Kund’. The water of
this ‘kund’ is hot enough to cook potatoes and
rice in cloth bundles, which the priests dish out
as a gimmick in the name of ‘prasad’. People also
are rather thrilled and astonished like I was and
accepted the ‘prasad’. Having had the naturally
cooked ‘prasad’, we retreated back to our vehicle
for our journey back feeling divine.
We reached back at Barkot 36 km from
Yamunotri, thence via Dharasu, traveled along
Bhagirathi to Uttarkashi a good 100 km from
Barkot, situated on the bank of Bhagirathi. This
was the head quarters of the DFO who briefed
us on the forests and their management being
replete with alpine, semi alpine, temperate and
sub-tropical vegetation, and vast areas being
under forest cover, and supported an extensive
animal life. He explained about glacial erosion
and landslides being common. These landslides
May 2011
had caused irreversible isolation between forest
patches including the alpine vegetation. We
halted here for the night and visited Lord
Vishwanath temple at the DFO’s suggestion. This
was very significant for a massive iron trident
erected in it.
Day 5: At the suggestion of the DFO we decided
to halt at Gangotri, so as to visit the actual source
of the river at Gaumukh, at least for the sheer
grandeur of the trek passing between lofty snow
peaks, the path being often covered with snow
at several points. He encouraged us stating that
after all we may never again visit the area, and
desired we make the one time attempt, though
it would be strenuous. The trainees were all game
for it, but required me to take the decision to
extend our tour schedule. I was all game, further
being the youngest of the lot with an eagerness
for the Himalayan air. We traveled along the
shrinking Bagirathi, both in size and fury, and
enjoyed the most magnificent view of the
Himalayas, rounding the mighty Mahla (4590m)
we came to Harsil, and reached Gangotri FRH.
The place was not very big, had a small modest
temple built in the 18th century at 3200m, and
is said to be the source of river Bhagirathi. The
surrounds were magnificent amidst the
mountain peaks of Shivling, Satopanth and
Bhagirathi sisters, and the attractive temple
compound had a ‘ghat’ leading into the river. We
did not dare to bathe as some devout pilgrims
do, but just dipped our feet into the freezing
water, and hoped we are adequately purified for
this generation.
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We visited the ‘Bhagirathi shila’ a rock on which
Lord Shiva was said to have received the furious
Ganga in his matted locks to minimize the
impact of her fall, and to tame her into docility.
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga
- the daughter of heaven, took the form of a river
to absolve the sins of King Bhagirath's ancestors,
following his severe penance of several
centuries. According to this legend, King Sagar,
grand father of Bhagiratha, after slaying the
demons on earth decided to stage the
‘Ashwamedh Yagya’ as a proclamation of his
supremacy just as Shri Rama did at Ayodhaya
when the horse was detained and challenged
by the young Lava-Kusha at Valmiki Ashram. The
horse which was to be taken on an uninterrupted
journey around the earth was accompanied by
the King's 60,000 sons born to Queen Sumati.
Indra, the supreme ruler of the gods feared that
he might be deprived of his celestial throne if
the 'Yagya' (worship with fire) succeeded, so
persuaded Asmanja, the only son born to the
second queen Kesani to take away the horse, and
tie it in the ashram of Sage Kapila, who was then
in deep meditation. The sons of the King Sagar
searched for the horse, and finally found it tied
near the meditating sage. These angry sons of
King Sagar into stormed into the ashram of sage
Kapil, who opened his eyes in rage on being
disturbed in his meditation and cursed the
60,000 sons to perish. Therefore Bhagirath is
believed to have meditated to bring down
Ganga to cleanse the ashes of his ancestors and
liberate their souls, and grant them salvation or
‘Moksha’.
May 2011
We attended the ‘aarti’ ceremony at Gangotri,
which was very impressive like was the temple,
on the banks of the rushing Bhagirathi, though
very narrow. About 100 meters above the Ganga
Temple, Kedar Ganga which starting from Kedar
Valley met the Bhagirathi. We carried water from
this confluence in our large just then exhausted
whisky bottle to be shared back at home as
‘thirtham’. The river Bhagirathi here at the source,
becomes the Ganga from Devprayag, where it
meets the Alakananda. This temple gets closed
on Diwali day every year and reopens in May.
During this closed time, the idol of the goddess
is shifted and kept at Mukhba village, near Harsil.
Day 6: We set out very early from Gangotri,
trekking, with the forest guard leading us. It was
a tiring climb, but absolute grandeur as assured
by the DFO. It was an experience we did not
regret. The path was flanked by high mountain
ranges, which culminated at the Kedarnath peak
(6970m). Each turn in the mountains left us
anticipating what the mountains withholds, until
we hear the water rushing over rocks, sometimes
as distant trickle, sometimes a heavy surge
nearby. The scene of adventure provided was
unique to these mountains. I had seen the
Kedarnath peak earlier, on the southern side from
Kedarnath, from which arose the Gangotri glacier
on the northern side. Just three of us reached
Gaumukh, which as the FG said was not all that
great, but it was the feeling we got to see where
the Ganga originated. We went a little further
towards Tapovan, from where the FG pointed out
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VANA PREMI
the Kedarnath peak, which was then covered
amidst clouds. We retrieved back from there,
without going further ahead to Tapovan, and still
ahead towards the Gangotri glacier. The guard
told us there was a dense forest near Tapovan,
which surrounds the Bhavishya Badri, up the
Dhauliganga River, a holy spot, where an idol of
Narsingha (the lion headed god) is enshrined. He
stated that there was a traditional belief that a
day would come when the present route to the
Badrinath will be inaccessible, and the Lord
Badrinath would be worshipped here, and that
was the reason why the place is called Bhavishya
Badri, which is about 17 km. east of Joshimath.
This area provided a majestic beauty of
coniferous forests, amidst the grandeur of glacial
world combined with lush green meadows.
The place around, what we trekked through was
the ‘Gangotri National Park’. It is typical of high
altitude ecosystem, with decisive influence from
‘Trans-Himalayan’ bio-diversity system, in both
physical and biological characteristics. The
landscape here is dominated by alpine scrub
and meadows at higher altitudes, with forests of
chirpine, ban oak, kharsu oak, deodar, spruce, fir,
betula and rhododendron ranging from lower
to higher elevation areas. The mountain sides
along the entire route from Gangotri to
Gaumukh are steeper, and are distinctly broken
up by landslides. Here 15 species of mammals
and 150 bird species have been documented,
which include some of the rare and charismatic
species like the snow leopard, black bear, brown
May 2011 VANA PREMI

bear, musk deer, blue sheep or bharal, Himalayan nothing short of a walk through paradise. We
tahr, Himalayan monal, Koklass, Himalayan reached Nachiketa Tal which in the shrouding
snowcock, Himalayan barbets, etc. mist rendered it a mythical dimension. Here we
were told the story went that it was built by
We reached back at evening at the FRH for some
sage Nachiketa whose father after giving away
real hot food, plus the emptying of another
everything he had to Lord Yama, god of death
whiskey bottle to give us warmth and relaxation,
was left with his only son Nachiketa. Yama
after the tiring day out in the extreme chillness.
touched by his great generosity of offering even
Day 7: We left leisurely and halted at Uttarkashi
his son spared the son, who spent his life here
175 km from Rudraprayag, to be hosted a nice
in meditation. We fortunately had a passing
dinner by DFO, and to exchange experiences, for
shower withy gentle falling drops looking like
he was a FRO promoted from NFRC. He was very
millions of pearls being strewn over the
learned in the local mythological legends, so we
600sqm Tal (lake) framed from all sides by the
clarified the many interesting episodes on the
looming leaning woods. The seclusion of the
cultural aspects of the hills as related by the RO
place was so wholesome and nature so benign
and FG.
we understood why Nachiketa decided to stay
Day 8: Leaving Uttarkashi after early breakfast, put here. There was a small temple here
with a whole day to spare with nothing much dedicated to Nag Devata besides its shore. We
enroute to Dehra Dun, we proceeded to then got back on to our trail along the winding
Chaurangi 25km away, and trekked down to route besides the Bhagirathi, via Dharasu
Nachiketa Tal alternating between a strenuous reached Tehri.
and gentle climb. The trail goes up forgotten,
From Tehri, we diverted away from the long
lonely ridges, slips down rocky descents with the
companionship of Bhagirathi, to Chamba
atmosphere pumping in the freshest oxygen. We
(6500ft), a very serene beautiful resort, sought
could never feel tired but were highly
after by many who seek an ideal place to relax,
rejuvenated. The path was strewn by small
and then proceeding onwards to Dhanaulti, and
waterfalls merrily trickling down over hanging
reached Mussoori. After spending some time
rocks as though sourced directly from the
at Mussoori, we hit for FRI, Dehra Dun, after a
heaven. The sun did not try too hard to reach us
very satisfying trip very late at evening, richer
down beneath the rich foliage rendering the
in our mythology.
forest a magical golden green. The trek was

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May 2011 VANA PREMI

SAXENA COMMITTEE: IMPLEMENTATION OF

FOREST RIGHTS ACT; AGENCIES THAT MATTER
(PART – II)
By
J V Sharma
Note: This is in continuation of an article of similar title by the same author published in February
2011 issue of Vana Premi.

The Revenue Department, managed by the members of elite Indian Administrative Service, by
virtue of its primacy in Indian Scheme of administration and the Tribal Welfare Department, being
the nodal agency mandated in Forest Rights Act, have come to be important players in the
implementation of the Act. It is pertinent to remind that the Saxena Committee did not have many
kind words for Tribal Welfare Department in terms of its status or capability. It is seen more as an
appendage of revenue department, always content to play the second fiddle. The Department
does not rue for its relegated position because it is invariably headed by an IAS officer and does not
have many options to be any thing different. Though the TW department is expected to be in the
driving seat and run the show in implementation of FRA, it depends heavily on Revenue Department
for the oxygen required in so far as its delivery system is concerned. So far as implementation of FRA
is concerned, the Revenue Department runs the show at each level, from village to District level,
with Tribal Welfare Department in tow.

There are two important conclusions one can draw from this scenario. One, the department meant
for the welfare of tribal population does not have the liberty and independence of its own to think
and act on its creative instincts and secondly, perhaps as a natural corollary, it is the bureaucrats
who are totally responsible for fashioning and executing the tribal development schemes. If the
tribals have serious complaints even after 60 years of planning & development, the bureaucracy
has to take the blame. Curiously, the Government have a pathological weakness to bet on the
wrong horses.

I am reminded of a famous anecdote very popular in Delhi circles some years ago. Finding a
bureaucrat representing a premier scientific institution in a high level meeting on scientific research
called by him, the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi exasperatedly exclaimed; “What are you here for? I
think the scientists know their subject better.” Informed sources say that the clout of the bureaucrats
declined to a large extent in science and technology sectors after this incident. Indiscriminate
deployment of bureaucrats and their proliferation in inconceivable positions had blunted the

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May 2011 VANA PREMI
creative genius of the executive machinery at lower levels.

The most important players in implementation of the FRA viz. the revenue and tribal welfare
departments having been discussed, next comes the real stakeholders. Forest land being the bone
of contention, the claimant and the Forest Department are the natural contending parties to any
claim. By far the most essential stakeholder is the claimant. The law is made to vest forest rights in
him and his relevance as well as his interests is of paramount importance. While the claimant is the
main contender, the other contending party, the Forest Department, by virtue of it being the
custodian of the forest land in question, has the inherent responsibility of safeguarding the trust
placed in its charge. But, for some inexplicable reasons, the scheme of things in FRA did not provide
equal leverage to Forest Department on par with the other contending party i.e. the claimant.
Though Rule 12 (1) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of
Forest Rights) Rules makes it compulsory to inform the forest department of the visit to site, receiving
evidence etc, the Act itself is silent over this aspect. This can prove to be a glaring omission in the
law.

A reading of the Act and Rules will drive any one to conclude that the forest department’s role in the
implementation of the FRA is more of ceremonial nature than of substantial contribution. The
forest official does not have an assigned role at village level where a claim is initially considered for
recommendation/rejection. His role in SDLC and DLC is at best secondary and prone to bulldozing
by the chairperson and other members. In these days when political interference is very common
even at grass-root level and politicians have compulsive preference for populism instead of good
governance, not many officials will have the spine to stand up and be counted. Forest officials
cannot be any different.

Strangely, there is a persistent disinformation spread by self styled lobbyists that the Forest
Department is the biggest obstacle in the successful implementation of FRA. It is unfortunate that
even Saxena Committee failed to read the situation correctly on this score. It is a case of perception
deficit. Like the claimant’s right to be heard in support of claim over the forest land, the bonafide
custodian of the property at stake should also have equal right to be heard of his version. The
processing fora should have the patience to hear both the contending parties and take an objective
decision. Short circuiting this procedure cannot be anything but a naked travesty of justice.

In fact many impartial observers feel that the Forest Department did not acquit itself creditably in
the implementation of the Act. Their attitude has been passive at best if not rank indifference. Their
performance level in safeguarding the trust in their charge is abysmal. As custodian of the forest
land in question, they should have been in possession of all the information & history in respect of
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May 2011 VANA PREMI
encroachment, encroachers, extent, period, sketch etc which would have facilitated the enquiry
immensely. The department should have prepared the information at least when it became
necessary during the process of verification of claims. They do not need orders from anybody to
survey areas in their custody. They could have verified the claims with satellite imageries and
presented the factual position before the authorised committees. Instead, they have thrown in the
towel even before the game started. Barring few exceptions, they preferred to sign on the dotted
line. The element of professionalism was conspicuous by absence. In the face of such lacklustre
performance, to say that the Forest Department created roadblocks in implementation is an undue
compliment. The much publicized FD interference in implementation could be the legitimate
protests/objections from the conscientious few of the serving forest fraternity.

It becomes necessary to mention here a new lobby is emerging who argue that there is over-
emphasis on environment. It is distressing to see some foresters too are prepared to buy this
argument (mercifully, only a few). The emphasis on and commitment to the cause of forests is no
longer the same acquired in institutions of forestry. These officers appear to savour privileges as
administrators than hardworking foresters. On account of interaction with outside agencies during
the past decade or two, they appear unsure of their own views and performance. The concern for
the loss of forests and the fervour to prevent it is on decline. There is a tendency to construe it as an
intellectual progression. Some go to the extent of arguing that climate change, global warming,
bio-diversity, ecology, environment etc are all myths and no undue concern need be shown to
them!

Lastly, the set of other agencies that mattered most are the Gram Sabha, the Sub-Divisional Level
Committee and the District level Committee. In view of the fact the Government, the local public
and the polity as a whole, are one in diverting as much forest land as possible as conferrable right,
it may not be necessary get into the details of performance of the Committees. Their role is simple,
clear and uncomplicated. It is an instrument created exclusively to recognize and vest in forest
dwellers the rights over forest land. It is a privilege never bestowed on any public representatives.
There is a point to make in this context. According to settled law, the only authority to settle a right
over a property is the Civil Court. In other words, the powers of a Civil Court are vested in various
Committees created under FRA. If land rights are to be decided by voting, one can understand to
what extent the executive can go to abuse the democratic apparatus.

India has accepted the doctrine of the Rule of Law. The doctrine is explained as follows:
“It means the absence of arbitrary power, effective control of and proper publicity of delegated

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May 2011 VANA PREMI
legislation, particularly when it imposes penalties; that when discretionary power is granted the
manner in which it is to be exercised should as far as possible be defined; that every man should be
responsible to the ordinary law whether he be private citizen or public officer; that private rights
should be determined by impartial and independent tribunals; and that fundamental private rights
are safeguarded by the ordinary law of the land.” (Wade and Phillips – Constitutional Law). What
needs to be seen in this context is whether the Committees created under FRA can come anywhere
near the impartial and independent tribunals mentioned in the doctrine above. The Saxena
Committee has missed this aspect totally. They appear concerned more about claims rejected
than the ineligible claims admitted. The one fact that needs to be kept in mind is that the Gram
Sabha, considered inadequately equipped to exercise the powers mandated by Constitution, is
found suddenly good enough to grant land titles under this legislation. That it cannot issue even a
ration card now in the village is a different story.

It is in the light of these facts the success or failure of the legislation needs to be evaluated. Alienation
of large extents of forest land by itself cannot be deemed as success. The Nation is committed to
rule of law which also implies that the law should be fair, equitable, purpose oriented, rational and
foolproof leaving no scope for subjective interpretations. The following observations in their own
words of the Saxena Committee deserve attention:

1. “Some of the States (e.g. Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh) considered the implementation
of the FRA 2006 as an opportunity “to distribute” forest land and secure the individual rights of
forest dwellers, particularly tribals. These State Governments set a deadline so that distribution is
completed well before the scheduled assembly elections of the State. Even at the National level,
the PMO set a target oriented review mechanism which caused unnecessary rush, distortions in
implementation, pushing States to worry only about showing increase in number of claims processed,
rather than the quality of the process. In a large number of cases the vesting of forest land has taken
place even without measuring the same on the ground. It is to be noted that no deadline for
implementation has been provided in the Act.” (Executive Summary- A.1)

2. “SDLCs and DLCs, even if constituted, have only partially discharged their responsibilities,
with little attempt to proactively help with claims and evidences, and on the contrary, often issuing
rejection letters without adequate grounds.” (Executive Summary – A.3.)
3. “There has been inadequate preparedness and lack of trained staff for implementation of
FRA at grassroots. Land survey, demarcation of boundary and settlement of land rights either for
revenue or forest land is a laborious, complex and time consuming activity. In the instant case State
Governments focussed only on achieving the targets in a time bound manner and the creation of

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May 2011 VANA PREMI
adequate human resources, equipment and building capacity for the gigantic task was not done.
…………. Some tasks (such as measurement or claim preparation) have been either outsourced or
completed by engaging staff on contract basis. This has adversely affected the quality and accuracy
of the output in many States resulting in wrongful rejections and also in few cases wrong acceptance
of a number of claims. (Executive Summary – A.4.)

4. Application of spatial technologies (including remote sensing (RS), global positions systems
(GPS) and geographic information system (GIS) have the potential to help in rapid delineation of
boundaries, immutable positional information and objective determination of the physical status of
claimed lands, provided skills are built, transparency is ensured and safeguards are followed. Several
States have utilized GPS technology for plot delineation. Only one State (Maharashtra) has used the
full suite of technologies (RS+GIS+GPS) for all three purposes in a relatively transparent manner. But
the SLMCstopped this process half way because of the “slow progress” and now title deeds are granted
without land measurement, which is a serious concern.” (Executive Summary – A.5.)

5. MoTA should issue directions that wherever FRC have been incorrectly formed …… without
following a democratic process, these FRCs are to be reconstituted through open elections at level
of PESA or revenue village-level Gram Sabhas, with clear instructions so that officials do not usurp
powers and functions of the FRCs. However, where there has been satisfactory processing of claims
and vesting of rights despite faulty FRC formation this should not be undone. The reconstituted
FRCs should only review where there has been improper rejection or acceptance, or denial of the
possibility of making claims etc and properly process new claims.” (Executive Summary – (A.8. ( c ))

6. “………. MoTA should clarify that no disqualifications on the basis of possession of additional
revenue land or jobs, or location of residence on revenue land etc are permissible under the FRA.”
(Executive Summary – A. 8 (d).

7. a special set of guidelines need to be worked out for the proper use of spatial technology in
the delineation, location and status verification of claims filed, so as to ensure reliability, objectivity
and transparency. Best practices identified and techniques developed in Maharashtra should be
incorporated; financial support, equipment and training should be provided at all levels, especially
the FRCs and field verifications done with involvement of claimants. (Executive Summary – A. 8. (e).
8. “State Governments should review their SLMCs, DLCs and SDLCs, including the problems
identified in this report regarding their composition, functioning, public interface and transparency
and issue directions for necessary correctives in each of these institutions.” (Executive Summary –
A. 8 (f ).

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May 2011 VANA PREMI
9. “MoTA should clarify the procedure to be followed for ensuring that rights certificates issued
under FRA are entered in record of rights, land settlement anf forest settlement records of each
State.” (Executive Summary – A. 8. (h).
10. “By and large, the Individual Forest Rights (IFR) claims that have been accepted are
legitimate ones. There are, however, some cases of fraudulent claims or post-2005 encroachments
reported from Maharashtra and a couple of other States.” (Executive Summary - B. 10.)
11. “There are however major errors of omission.” (Executive Summary - B. 11.)
12. “The biggest problem is with the many cases of faulty rejections. Rejections are done without
assigning reasons or based on wrong interpretation……”. (Executive Summary – B. 12.)
13. “All States need to address afresh the problem of omissions: areas where the FRA is not
happening, settlements, groups or individuals that are being left out and so on.” (Executive Summary
- 16. Recommendations (a)
14. Title deeds of land for individual possession should be given only after the physical
measurement has been accurately done on the ground and demarcated with permanent boundary
marks in the presence of all the stakeholders to avoid future land disputes.” (Executive Summary–
16. (b).

15. “The task is difficult since right from the days, prior to the birth of the Act, it was hailed as an
Act to grant pattas of forest land. This perception unfortunately continues even today not just
among masses but also amongst some of the implementers and policymakers. The Act is also
widely seen as one of change of forest governance but is unfortunately not being understood as
such.” (Ch. 1 – Para 1.3.)

16. “The PMO’s target oriented review mechanism has also caused distortions in implementation
pushing States to worry only about showing increase in number of claims processed rather than
the quality of the process.” (Ch.3-para 2.3.4.3.)
17. “Constitution of Gram Sabhas is at the panchayat level, rather than at the village /hamlet
level. As is evidently clear from 2(g) and 2(p) of the Act, the gram sabhas are to be convened at the
hamlet level in schedule V areas and the revenue village level or traditional village or habitations
and settlements in other areas. However, in a number of states, such as AP, WB,and UP, these are
being called at the panchayat level, which is illegal. (11.1.1.)

18. “The Tribal Development Departments of the State Governments have neither crosschecked
the work being done at the village levelby the revenue and forest officials, nor did they engage any
outside agency to do independent assessment.” (11.1.2.)
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May 2011 VANA PREMI
19. “Powers of the FRC and GS are exercised by the village level officials and the non-officials of
the FRC and GS are just putting their signatures to the reports written by the officials. The village
level enquiry reports Have not been verified by block and district level officials. Neatly devised
systems of processing of claims at various levels has not been operationalized except in few areas
of some States.” (11.1.3.)

20. “In almost no instance has the SDLC proactively provided maps, documents and evidence
to FRCs and GSs though this is required by FRA.” (11.1.5.)

21. “The Tribal departments are used to give scholarships and grants to beneficiaries but have
no experience of dealing with programmes that require interdepartmental coordination. Most
nodal officers, without much of capacity building inputs given to them, were thus quite happy
collecting statistical information on FRA but took no initiative in verifying the figures, arranging for
a supervision architecture, or assessing the quality of performance of districts. The Tribal Welfare
Department officers are seen as very low in the hierarchy as compared to the Chairman and hence
had hardly any say in the matter and hardly took any initiative. The show was seen and projected
primarily as Chaiman’s or FD show.” (11.1.6.)

22. “Only a few States have been able to use application of the spatial and remote sensing
technology mainly, GPS or PDA for demarcating the boundary and measuring area of plots for
individual forest rights because of lack of capacity building in the application of this technology.”
(11.1.9)

In the end analysis, if the nodal agency did not play its assigned role and if the implementation of
the Act is hijacked by revenue or forest officials and if different agencies that matter in the context
did not do what is expected of them, resulting in serious infractions, as opined by the Saxena
Committee, it is apparent that there are legal, procedural and systemic faults. Taking up
implementation before the grey areas are addressed, was a lapse. The Government went ahead
with implementation in an unholy haste. The Committee’s view that all inconvenient things crept
in implementation should go and all favourable acts must survive, irrespective of legal sanction,
cannot be acceptable in civilized society. It should strictly be according to law. It cannot be a law of
convenience. If what is done is illegal, it has to go lock, stock and barrel irrespective of the
consideration whether it pinches whom and where. It has to be reminded here that the very
constitutional validity and legality of the provisions of the FRA are challenged and the matter is
pending before Courts.

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May 2011 VANA PREMI

Listing out all the observations of Saxena Committee will result in reproduction of the report. The
objective of the article is to point out some of the systemic defects in the legislation and in its
implementation. It does not mean that the Report is good and conclusions drawn are correct. The
Committee itself is conscious of its inadequacies admitted in so many words on the information
available. They could find glaring defects even on the basis of peripheral inputs and the actual
position could be much worse. The thrust of the views expressed by the Committee appears to
highlight the need to go even beyond the confines of the given law to alienate forest land and to
plead for providing space to civil society organizations in the implementation of the Act. The
Committee did not have a single word of sympathy towards environment. The health and well
being of future generations did not mean anything to the Committee. The Committee expects
the civil societies to do wonder where the accountable government agencies failed. It is a very
dangerous suggestion bound to make the waters murkier. One has to wait and see how the
Government is going to respond to the recommendations made. The views of the real stakeholders
on the report are yet to be known. Perhaps, the last word can only be said by the Courts.

Contd. from page no. 39

Ramesh made this remark while accusing the
Information Technology (IT ) industry of not
adhering to green norms.
"The IT industry is a huge guzzler for air
conditioning. IT buildings are horribly inefficient
when it comes to meeting energy efficient
levels. I close my ears when the IT czars are giving
long lectures on green building," he said.
On other issues, Ramesh said India's ambitious
target of bringing 33 per cent of its area under
green cover is well out of reach given the size
of the population and the pressure for
development.
Ramesh instead felt that the focus should be on
improving the quality of the existing green
cover, rather than trying to extend it.

The minister also said that buildings of the IT
industry are "poor advertisements of green
habitats."
Ramesh made these remarks while speaking at
the "Green Landscape Summit-2011" organised
by CII.
He also pointed out that about 40 per cent of
the Indian forest is open degraded forest land,
which means when you look up, you easily see
the Sun (In forests with good tree cover, it is not
possible to see the sun except in glimpses).

21
May 2011
CALL OF THE CHOLA COUNTRY
By
Navratan Singh
Of late I have been asking questions to myself.
One of them is why we forest officers mix
pleasure fun and frolic with tough and hard
physicals .Our annual meets, can be comfortably
conducted in ease and luxury of resorts. But in
closed confines we gasp for breath, and rush to
open spaces like fish to water. Our schedules end
up in excruciating forays into forests on the first
call. Is it due to an ample intake of overt and
venison, or is it due to the extra lung space we
built up pumping in pure Oxygen with our field
jaunts, while we were in harness?
This happened in XI SFRC meet in our visit to the
Biosphere Reserve. After a sumptuous lunch at
the Eco tourism Centre the organizers offered to
members, a choice to march 2 kilometers up, to
the 300 year old woody climber (Enteda
scandence) It is supposed to be one of its kinds.
Most of us took the bait. We started huffing and
puffing towards the sleeping beauty. With
bulging girths of our own, the seventies going
on eighties intended to measure the girths of
the creep at regular intervals all along the 3 ½
kilometers of its length. As the Sun was going
down the organizers got restless and advised us
to retreat. But beating retreat is not what we
could reconcile to even at the cost of being left
out. “We would rather sleep, with the woody
climber for a change, than in the arms of our bed
cushions-?” However, after persistent efforts of
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the organizers, wiser counsel prevailed. We were
dissuaded, brought back to the camp, served hot
cups of tea and herded back to Tirupathy.
The other question that I often ask myself is why
the Tamil country, the land of the Cholas beckons
me to its fold every now and then and I move
towards it in a trance.
XI SFRCIANS meet so close to it raked up my
itch for this tract of the country I have a fetish for.
I planned my trip keeping a few days open. Soon
after the last lunch of the Meet, and hugs and
kisses (pappis & jhappies), with every bit of my
body aching we rushed lock stock and barrel to
the bus stand. Buses were available only up to
Kancheepuram. One was actually waiting for us
.We jumped in.
Tamilnadu and its junior Poducherry are unique
because they are full of Tamilians. Nowhere else
in the world you find so many people squeezed
in such a small area speaking so loud and
eloquent Tamil. It is a lingo I was trying to master
for two years until I found a toddler of two
speaking much better than me. Disappointedly
I said, “I quit”. The language by itself coupled with
the long names of the people speaking it
increases the number of neurons and sets them
up in the brain, such a way as to increase their
IQ.
May 2011
It is so difficult to fathom the Tamil mind which
makes a face like that of Rajnikant, turn them on.
It makes them field the finest bureaucrats, who
fuel the engine of the Central and State
administrations. It proliferates, prodigies making
mathematicians, scientists, poets, chess players
and musicians. The Centre dreads the Quick Gun
Murugans they throw up as their leaders. Their
verdant demography amazes us. It includes the
barefoot billionaires loitering in the dinghy by
lanes of Tiruppur as well as, everlasting beauties
sent to the tinsel world like Viajayantimala,
HemaMalini and Rekha. The country loves the
melodious twist they give to your names. If your
parents name you Hamd Hussain you will be
Gamid Gussain. Karunakar becomes Garunagar
and Hemanth Karkare will be reminded of his
savlon gargle when repeatedly addressed as
Gemanth Gargare.
Ramanujam, .C.V.Raman, Venkataraman
Ramakrishnan, Vishvanathan Anand, the list of
gems in their treasure is endless. Integrationists
pointing blaming fingers at them have to eat
their boots, by the fact that Subramuniam Bharti
wrote poems on Guru Govind Singh.
This land produced the only colonizers that India
made. The Cholas were gritty warriors and
seafarers. I understand that the great advantage
they had in their battles was the fabulous Tamil
smile. Sparkling white teeth on a dark base has a
psychedelic effect which stuns and paralyses its
prey. They subjugated colonies after colonies, far
and wide extending over a large chunk of the
pacific, viz Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.
23
VANA PREMI
The area comprises of the present Myanmar,
Thailand Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and
Indonesia and of course Sri Lanka. Had they not
stuck their nose with the Pallavas, Chalukyas, and
Pandyas, they would have spread their wings to
Oceania, the land of Aussies & Kiwis and greeted
Thomas Cook with a loud Vanakkam.
Kanchepuram did not make us wait and offered
us a connecting bus to Poducherry better known
by its nickname Pondy, and that too with a vacant
front seat. The journey was swift and exhilarating,
wide wind screen in our front and the driver on
our right. We were going to make it to Pondy by
sunset.
The town greeted us through sleek receptive
gates, and soon took us to its bosom. Alighting
at the bus stand I reached out to the softest
looking of the auto drivers and asked him to find
us a lodge. Hunting for a lodge is one of my
favorite activities. I start it with noting down the
phone number of the police station in the
vicinity. One point to be noted is, never reach
Pondy on weekends when it overflows with
visitors. After ‘no vacancy’ regrets at several
lodges we got one on the Mission street. Room
secured and luggage checked in, we had to rush
for an eating place before they shut them off.
The nearest was a few blocks away. We decided
to let the driver go, and asked for the charge. The
driver studied the meter carefully and then
started counting on his fingers. Announcing six
hundred and fifty, his explanation was, two
hundred for the ride and four hundred and fifty
for nine stoppages at fifty each. The issue was
May 2011
contentious. The figure was a few multiples up
on my calculation. I brandished my cell phone
and dialed.
“Hello, Police Station? ‘Enna Swamy- Namasgar.
Let me talk to the inspector”. - and then,- “Hi !
Singh here. How ‘r u Thumbi. I am back- I am at
Kailash Guest House for this night. Meet me
tomorrow at Park Guest House. By the way talk
to this auto driver. He has a problem. Eh- What is
your auto Number?”.The speechless driver
pleaded joining both his palms.
“OK Don’t bother, bye” .My proximity to authority
had its sobering effect and resulted in
consensus. I thanked the instrument I was talking
to. The number 001, I called, had reached no one.
Pondy comes in two flavors. Tamil flavor and
French flavor. It is a place to just relax eat, drink,
add zing to your life, and live on. It forbids
carrying any agenda or deadline. It is a place to
feel, to discover you. Throw away your watch; do
not look at the calendar. Just be merry and enjoy
life king size. It is a place you deserve and have
every reason, to be in. But even this heaven can
not relieve you of one job, booking of return
tickets. Chennai by bus was a given. The smooth
and silky road ride could not be missed.
Back journey from Chennai by train throws out
possibilities of some variations. A break at
Bapatla is one choice. It is the gateway of the
beach at Suryalanka. An Air force station on the
beach has made it a very popular resort among
the defense personnel. Some of them had
spotted dolphins very near to the sea shore.
24
VANA PREMI
Ponnami runs a guest house with about a dozen
suits here, which are generally vacant.
Earlier I had a thorough look at the Railways
guide ‘Trains at a glance’ to pick up a train from
Chennai which gave me the maximum stay at
Pondy and dropped me at a civilized hour in
Bapatla. I had an immense liking for the one
going by the name Pinakini. It started at 2 PM
and reached Bapatla around 8-30 PM, and more
importantly had vacancies. The name Pinakini
floored me down. Its anagram in Hindi ‘Pina kyun
nain’ has long been my leitmotif to counter the
advocates of abdication.
Taking leave of Pondy is always a painful parting.
I took a walk on the jetty, taking in lungful deep
breaths and stayed as long as I could afford to. At
the Bus stand I went to the MAY I HELP YOU
man. He was a mono linguistic guy. Whichever
language you addressed him in you got reply in
colloquial Tamil. On asking for Chennai bus he
pointed out towards one and blurted out some
expletives. I did not bother to go into further
details and moved on, for which I had to repent
later.
Pondy to Chennai was the best bus travel in my
package. The road is one of the finest in the
country. And our carriage sailed on beautifully.
The ride was a pure ecstasy. We entered out skirts
of Chennai. It was past 12 now. We wanted to
know where we stood vis-a-vis Chennai Central.
I asked one fellow traveler, cute young lass. How
long it takes to go to Chennai Central.“Two hours,
may be I am not sure.” This reply took the wind
May 2011
out of our sails. But she was not sure. We should
ask some one, sure enough, we consoled
ourselves. Another gentleman came to our
rescue.” This bus goes up to Guindy only. Get
down at the railway station and take the local
train to Park station. Central will be walk able
from there”. Now I recollected in a flash back what
the man on the Pondy help desk was trying to
say.”Trouble now.”We got into this scary situation
due to too much of loafing around. We pulled
our baggage down and rushed towards the
station, an old fashioned building, painted brick
red. I was not much impressed by the structure,
even though in gratitude. Every minute of our
wait seemed to be an age. And then the lady
arrived. One o’clock noon being a non rush hour
we slipped in and settled .The lady was swift and
stations passed by. In our anxiety we failed to
notice any of them. It took about half an hour
and we were on the Park Station platform. We
took the beeline to the underground passage
and crossed over. As we surfaced and looked we
were facing the majestic Chennai Central, still
half a kilometer away. Now we had to sprint this
last lap.
Chennai Central was as Chennai Central is wont
to be, confusing and bustling with passengers of
various hues and shades. The display board was
working intermittently, going off and on at will.
Railways have a penchant for employing
announcers with incomprehensible squeaky
voices, coupled with the rut of the public address
system and din and noise of the maddening
25
VANA PREMI
crowds. Their blabber left us more confused with
every broadcast. After a while I could catch the
display, which suddenly came to life and
informed that Pinakini was ready to leave. Further
beating around the bush revealed that some of
the platforms were behind the brick and mortar
structure and Pinakini was playing hide and seek
with us. Exhausted to the bone we limped
towards our bogie. We dreamt of a good stretch
of legs for next six hours. But more surprises
were ahead of us.
Pinakini turned out to be an intercity train with
only sitting facility and no berths. In my
infatuation with its name I had ignored the
details. We located our seats and lowered
ourselves down. Now I and partner are blessed
with rather ample sized build. I had often
absolved myself of the accusations on this count.
My plea was “yeh to Ram ki Mahima hai, hamra
kya kasoor hai” ( This is but the grace of the Lord,
no guilt on me). The vacant space of 4 x 18 inches
left vacant by us, after squeezing ourselves,
presented a pathetic look. The bogy was filling
up, first all the seats, then the passages. Some
new arrivals briskly moved towards our seat,
enthralling us. A look at close quarters and they
moved away disapprovingly. I was getting
restless, feeling the hurt of rejection. Finally I
spotted a thin skin and bone of a very small
frame, and invited him. I was overwhelmed with
joy, as he precipitated on the strip offered by
me. The train started. I noticed he was not
comfortable and very soon he will desert me. I
May 2011
was right. A few minutes later he got up and got
dissolved in the crowd. I could under stand now
why some airlines charge you double the fares if
the plinth area of your person exceeds their
standards. Now we were de facto owners of the
whole of the seat but not so de jure. However
the situation eased up after a few stations.
The compartments are provided display screens
which read the name of the next station, its
receding distance from the train and expected
arrival time. We dozed off after making a few
thumb rules .Get on your toes if it shows Chirala.
Afterwards if it does not show Chirala or Bapatla,
you have gone too far. However we were wide
awake and landed comfortably in Bapatla.
At every new place I visit, my first enquiry is about
a place to stay and the next is a place to eat. The
person holding the enquiry counter in the station
itself was a great sport. He beamed a cheerful
smile at me. He surely was not one of those who
yawningly give you a tired look, as at an intruder
and talk to you as if doing a favor. He proudly
informed that one of the newly constructed
retiring rooms was vacant. I completed the
necessary formalities. The eatery he
recommended was Sripriya in the town Centre.
Suryalanka at about 10 kilometers was
reachable by autos. The room still a virgin was in
colorful drapes, with brand new mattresses and
pillows a shining tiled floor and a spotless rest
room with a large exhaust fan. Baptla station
which gave a desolate look when we got there,
26
VANA PREMI
proved to be a nocturnal beast, dead in the day
and bubbling with activity in the night. Most of
the trains to Chennai from other metros pass
through it in the midnight. Later I observed that
the most significant building in Bapatla is the
station itself.
Early next morning we stepped out in to the
town. We noticed people joyfully moving about
on strange jalopies. The ingenuity of the
Bapatlavi ( I coined this word , the Urdu way)
underlines itself through this invention which
may change commuting mode throughout the
world. The planners of schemes like JN NURM
can get a lead, from these highly efficient eco
friendly, and pollution free carriages. The design
is simple. A rectangular thick board of teak,
probably stolen from the forests of Adilabad or
Karimnagar is fixed just a little below the hip
level on cycle rickshaws. All you hav to do is turn
around, softly touch your arise to the plank, get
on your toes, push yourself against it and you
are aboard. Your feet are joyfully dangling in the
air. You get an uplifting feel of independence.
You do not have to bend your legs and aggravate
your knee joints. Getting down is another delight.
Just straighten your feet and you are landed.
In the North, on and off I have been riding on
rickshaws. It is like mounting a camel. Being
arthritic I know the hell I have to go through,
getting up and down, and later getting
incapacitated for the rest of the day. The
rickshaws of Hyderabad are still worse, with only
May 2011
six inches difference in levels of the seat and the
floor. Good riddance. They are obsolete now,
thanks to the delusion of prosperity we have
been tricked into. The limitation of space in the
seats is another discomfort for the chosen few,
with bloated bodies. I have seen some of them
seated on the ridge of the backrest which made
a deep dent on their bottoms.
The back is the most under utilized organ in the
human anatomy. It has not been put to any
meaningful use so far, except for making a fashion
statement through deep necked apparels.
However the titillations caused this way by a few
shapely bodies are more than offset, by the far
numerous, bulging with tyre rings around them.
The wily Bapatlavi has devised this four seater
with amazing economic and social ramifications.
Two Passengers sit in the front on the left and
right of the man on pedal and two in the back.
No window aisle problem, every seat is windy.
There are no back rests. The front seater’s back
rests on that of the one seated behind. The
elimination of back rests saves ten percent of
the meager cost of the machine It gives both of
them a mild scrub on each bump and a pleasant
sensation. Touch and body contacts break the
barriers of mind and bind people together, had
there been no untouchablity, the country would
not have the scourge of cast system.
It also throws open a plethora of fantasies.
Anticipation is more exciting than fulfillment.
Day in and day out you end up fantasizing,
27
VANA PREMI
rubbing your flabby back with sinews and
muscles of some dusky belle and the thrill of
living goes on. In a span of four days of life two
are gone in desire and the other two in
anticipation.( Do arzoo mein kat gaye Do intezar
mein.)
This machine is an efficient fitness aide and has
immense potential of export, to the smoke free
European and American towns. Children padding
up, loads of fat is a constant worry of parents in
U.S. In the state of Omaha an ambitious project
was taken up to lay cycling tracks. This is an ideal
machine for a group of five, to pedal by turns, to
and back from their schools and toning up their
bodies in the bargain. Better sooner than later
the Bapatlavi should get a patent for his
creativity.
The beach of Suryalanka, about 9-10 kilometers
from Bapatla is conveniently reached by autos.
Standard charges then were Rs.100/- either way.
A livelier choice is to ride a sharing auto for Rs.10/
per head. You have to get the nod from the driver,
and wait. There is an extra plank fixed on the back
of the front seat. He makes room for the
passengers calculating their body volumes. He
was going to fit in, four in the back seat four on
the plank and two on his own seat, with me
getting this privilege. Without reaching the
figure of 10 the auto was not going to budge an
inch. The passengers sit facing each other with
their two legs alternated by those of their
opposite numbers. A brisk pull of the handle and
engine comes to life. But the driver sees more
May 2011 VANA PREMI
hands signaling. He kills the engine and waits. under the splashing waves. It should be free
from swift or deceptive under currents. This is
Now you are amazed to see how spaces expand
ensured by. a deep inwards curve, from the
with the need of the hour. He made adjustments
mouth of river Krishna to Ongole, in the corpore
asking some to change their seats and fixed in
sano of India. It should be free from crocks and
two more. He asked me to get down to set up
sharks. Presence of dolphins in the vicinity is a
one more on his right and one on his left. Then
good news. Suryalanka has all these positives
he invited me back. Now loaded with 15 the auto
going with it. It needs a few shacks providing
is unleashed on the road, with half of my body
good sea foods and doubling up as cloak rooms
swinging in the air. In the return trip, if lucky you
for depositing belongings. An efficient coast
may be gifted an additional freebee. As you
guard with good rescue equipment has to be
stretch your leg you find some thing soft and wet.
drafted up. It will give the beaches of Goa a run
Then an odor of fish hits your nostrils. The odor
for their money.
remains with you, much after your journey.
Wherever you go it follows you like a jilted lover. Nature hides its choicest fruits of exhilaration
behind the barriers of toil and grit. Swimming in
The journey is a wonderful learning experience.
the sea is one such delight. The soft and the meek
Conversations go on about the day to day
are deprived of the fun, by a process of
happenings, the joys and worries, the gains and
elimination. If we dare the surf and splashes, go
the pains, the agonies and the ecstasies of life.
deeper into the sea a whole world of joys opens
Soon you are no longer a stranger. The hot topic
up for us. The sea rocks us up and down like a
then, was a radio and television warning of storm
baby in a cradle. Once you break the barrier you
building up in the sea. The concern showed on
have a world of enthralling activities before you,
the faces of those whose folks were out in the
sea. The auto takes me past the Air Force Station There is another question that keeps recurring
right up to the sandy shores of Suryalanka. And I in my mind. Why the relatives of my wife always
stood facing the Bay of Bengal. get on my nerves? In one such moment of
desperation I put the question straight to her.
A good beach should have a mild gradient of
“Show me one relative of yours who can cheer
slope. It should slowly lower you down allowing
me up”. She flashed a smile at me and told. ‘Yes
you to test the water, jumping over or dipping
My hubby.”

Why women live a better, longer, and peaceful life?

Because women don’t have a wife.
28
May 2011
SEIZURE OF AN OIL TANKER
By
V.SANTHASEELA BABU
Red sanders wood, like Sandal Wood, is sold by its
weight and not by the cubical contents. The
scientific name of Red sanders tree is ‘Pterocarpus
santalinus’ and it belongs to the family
‘Leguminosae’. Red sanders species is endemic
to Chittoor and Cuddapah Districts and also
occurs in the borders of Nellore and Kurnool
Districts and does not naturally occur anywhere
in the world. The heartwood of the tree is highly
valuable and it is smuggled out of our country to
foreign countries like Japan, China. Singapore.
Malaysia etc; In the process of its smuggling,
different ways and means are adopted by the
smugglers to delude the Forest Officials. It is
mainly smuggled through fast moving vehicles
like Cars, Jeeps, Vans, Lorries and even Buses. Even
it is smuggled through trains also. Goods trains
that transport iron ore to Madras are mainly
utilized for smuggling of Red sanders wood. The
wood is smuggled in Lorries by covering it under
the top loads like onions, watermelons,
cantaloupes, mangoes, banana bunches, paddy
husk, cotton, Papaya fruits and any material that
is easily available to the smugglers which they
think that would be fit for camouflaging and
hiding of the wood.
The smuggling of Red sanders wood dates back
to early 1950s, if I am correct, (I am subject to
correction). In India the Red sanders wood is
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VANA PREMI
utilized mainly for pillars, poles and beams in
building material, and for pounding sticks, cot
legs, ploughs and toy making etc; Other than
these domestic uses no other uses are known.
The end use of the wood in foreign countries
importing Red sanders wood is still a million
dollar question for us. It is said that they use it in
the manufacture of music instruments called
‘shami shen’ which is manufactured in Japan. But
sometimes powder and chips of Red sanders
was also seized while being smuggled.
Somehow there is some ulterior usage of the
wood which has been kept as a trade secret till
now. It is presumed that it might be being
utilized in atomic reactors and also in the
manufacture of some medicines.
The above introduction about the Red sanders
wood is given by me for the appreciation of
readers who did not work in Red sanders bearing
areas and the readers of other states who do not
have a proper idea of the wood.
During the years 1989 to 1992, I worked as
Divisional Forest Officer, Flying Squad (Red
sanders) Division, Cuddapah (presently YSR
district). The Flying Squad (Red sanders) Division
was formed during the year 1965 with
headquarters at Cuddapah mainly to curb the
Red sanders smuggling activities and the first
District Forest Officer of the Division was Mr. K.
May 2011
Kesava Reddy, I.F.S (Retd) who was our Prl. Chief
Conservator of Forests.
For any Flying Squad Party the informant network
is of prime importance. By setting up reliable
informants and gathering precise information,
cases could be booked successfully. During the
process of contacting the informants and
gathering of information about the smuggling
of Red sanders, it came to light that the Red
sanders smugglers have invented a new
technique in smuggling of the wood and it was
being smuggled through oil tankers. The ‘modus
operandi’ is that there are certain Cement
factories located at Yerraguntla town in
Cuddapah District and the oil utilized in running
those factories is transported from Madras. The
smugglers contact the drivers of those oil tankers
while they are on their way to Yerraguntla and
fix up a deal with them for transport of Red
sanders wood on their return trip to Madras. After
unloading the oil at Yerraguntla, the drivers of
those oil tankers come in contact with the
smugglers at a pre-designated point and get the
Red sanders wood loaded in to the tanker and go
scot free to Madras as none would suspect them
en-route. After coming to know about this I was
surprised at the innovative techniques adopted
by the smugglers in transport of Red sanders
wood. I have requested some of my informants
to work out in this aspect and gather precise
information about the smuggling through oil
tankers and pass on the same to me and
30
VANA PREMI
promised to pay them an attractive sum for the
information leading to the detection of the case
as informant reward.
One day, while I was indisposed with slight
temperature, at about 7 PM in the evening, my
staff came to me and informed that they have
received information about smuggling of
firewood to Cuddapah town. As I was unwell, I
asked them to go along with the Range Officer
and checkup the information. After about an
hour or so the office watcher knocked at the
door and handed over an urgent Telegram
addressed to me. When I opened and read the
telegram it was mentioned in it “ Oil Tanker today
on Madras Road” and some unknown name was
there as sender. I just thought over for some
time as none of my staff were available with
me. I sent my elder son on Motor cycle along
with the office watcher to the Forest Range
Officer, Cuddapah asking him to come with the
available staff to my office immediately in
uniforms. The Forest Range officer has earlier
worked in Flying Squad Party, Rayachoty under
my control. In the meanwhile I telephoned to
the Divisional Forest Officer, Cuddapah and
requested him to send his jeep along with his
driver to me. Within about half an hour the
Forest Range Officer, Cuddapah with his staff and
the jeep sent by the DFO, Cuddapah were at
my office.
Then I proceeded in the jeep with the FRO and
staff on Cuddapah – Renigunta road and kept
May 2011
watch on the main road at a vantage point. We
were stopping all the vehicles and checking
them. At about 1 AM there were two Lorries
coming from Nandyal Division along with
Bamboo loads and we stopped both the Lorries
and the staff were obtaining the permits from
them for checking. In the meanwhile an Oil
Tanker bypassed both the Lorries by getting
down the road margin and speeded up in spite
of the attempts of the staff to stop it.
Immediately all of us got in to the jeep and
started chasing the Tanker. The tanker was
speeding up and we were also following it in
our jeep without minding our speed. After
chasing for about 10 to 15 Kms, we noticed that
the Tanker was left on the midst of the road in
running condition itself without even switching
off the engine and the inmates of the tanker have
fled from the scene. I first asked the staff to open
the lids of the oil tanker and checkup the
contents. One of the staff members climbed up
the tanker and after opening the lid shouted “Sir,
there are Red sanders pieces inside”. Then I asked
the staff to go and search for the people who
fled from the oil tanker in nearby areas.
After some time an old lady came there and after
seeing us and the staff in uniform, told us that
she was at the bus shelter which is nearby on
the roadside and a stranger came there and
when enquired by her, he was talking in an
unknown language and she could not understand
what he was telling. We went along with her and
found a person who was wearing a lungi and
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VANA PREMI
sitting in the small bus shelter located on the
roadside. There was a small leather bag in his
hands. On enquiry he stated in Tamil that he is a
trader of cattle and that he came to buy some
cattle from the local villagers and was waiting
for some transport facility to go to Madras.
Somehow I was suspicious on his replies and his
behavior. I wanted to check the bonafides of his
statement and forcibly took the leather bag
from him. When I opened the bag I was
astonished to see the Trip sheet, Registration
Certificate, Insurance cover and connected
records of the Oil Tanker and his Driving Licence.
Immediately we took him in to our custody and
sent word for panchayathdars and conducted
panchanama and recorded the statement of the
person taken in to custody by us. After
completing the formalities we took the Oil
Tanker to the premises of my office and kept in
safe custody.
The next day right from the morning there was a
stream of visitors from the town at my office to
have a glimpse of the Oil Tanker seized by us as it
was first of its kind in those days. The driver was
produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate,
Cuddapah and was remanded to Judicial custody.
Since I was one of the PWs in the case, I felt that it
was not just on my part to initiate confiscation
proceedings. So I directed the Forest Range Officer
to produce the Vehicle before the Divisional Forest
Officer, Cuddapah Territorial Division for initiating
the confiscation proceedings under Sec 44-A of
A.P. Forest Act 1967.
May 2011
The news of seizure of Oil Tanker with Red
sanders wood was covered by all the press
reporters at Cuddapah and appeared in the
Newspapers. I got a good enlarged photograph
of the vehicle and the PWs taken and sent it to
the News Editor of Doora Darshan and the news
with photograph was telecasted in the Regional
news bulletin of Doora Darshan and it was the
first time that a forest offence was telecasted in
the Regional news bulletin of Doora Darshan in
those days.
After a week or so, one of the informants set up
by me for gathering the information regarding
Contd. from page no. 6
This category of forest staff stationed in the interior
of forests often maintains, two establishments, for
the sake of children’s education. This also prompt
the staff to be absent from headquarters with or
without proper leave. This can probably be
rectified, if subsidized boarding schools are
provided at suitable places for the children up to
10th standard.
Fixing suitable grades, time bound promotions
based on seniority and efficiency will also be
encouraging to attract suitably qualified
candidates.
The recently introduced system of having Forest
Stations on the lines of police department is only
partly successful, since forest inspections are
adversely affected especially if a motor vehicle is
provided for the station, since the staff is tempted
to be away, by turns (with or without leave).
Inspections by higher officers are not fully effective.
32
VANA PREMI
the smuggling of Red sanders by oil tankers
came and met me and claimed for payment of
the reward as promised by me earlier. I asked
him about the proof of passing on the
information as I have requested some more
persons also to get me the information. He
immediately took out the Telegram receipt
issued by the postal authorities when he gave
me the Telegram. With this I was convinced that
he is the right person and sent him away after
paying the amount of reward and thanking him
for the prompt and intelligent way of passing
on the information.
Before independence composite Madras State
which included present Tamil Nadu, most part
of present Andhra Pradesh, Malabar area of
Kerala and south Kanara of Karnataka had only
one Chief Conservator of Forests at Madras and
six conservators stationed suitably in different
parts of the State. In many forests rest houses
and inspection bungalows, did not have cooks.
European officers toured in their cars with their
cooks or butlers carrying provisions, procuring
milk, eggs, meat or chicken locally. Junior
officers utilized their peons or rest house
watchers for cooking, if hotels or tea shops were
not available near the place of stay (which was
not an irregularity in those days)
Relocation of additional PCCFs., and CCFs in
different parts of the State, close to important
forest areas, sanctuaries, etc. should be possible,
to utilize the services of higher forest officers
and ensure better management.
May 2011
ROLL OF HONOUR
M. Venkataramana, Forest Watcher, Chittoor East Range,
Chittoor East division
Among the non-executive forest employees,
some render service in giving secret information
to field staff leading to detection of forest
offences, some being offences of grave nature.
One such person was Sri M. Venkataramana.
Venkataramana was working as Rest House
Watcher at Panapakam Forest Rest House. He
passed on useful information to field staff
leading to important cases. He used to zealously
participate some times in the seizure of
properties involved in forest offences. The
smugglers who bore grudge against him were
determined to wreak vengeance and finish him
off.
On the night of April 6, 1990 while
Venkataramana was sleeping at the Forest Rest
House at Panapakam, the assailants found, that
was the opportune moment and the killers
stabbed him mercilessly at many places. There
If you have the opportunity to play this
game of life you need to appreciate every
moment. A lot of people don’t appreciate
the moment until it is passed. (Kanye West)
33
VANA PREMI
was heavy bleeding and no one else was there
to arrange for any medical assistance. Poor
Venkataramana succumbed to the injuries.
The Government passed orders sanctioning the
usual benefits, to the survivors of Venkataramana,
of ex-gratia payment Rs. One lakh; payment of
salary to the widow as admissible on the date of
death till the date of retirement if he had been
alive; payment of family pension and gratuity to
the widow; and provision of employment to one
of the survivors of the family.
Accordingly Sri Prasad Babu, son of the late
Venkataramana, was offered the job of attender
in March 1991 in the division office of Chittoor
East division. But after a few days, Prasad Babu
resigned the job and took up employment with
TTD as Assistant Wireman.
May his soul rest in peace!
K.B.R.
May 2011 VANA PREMI

MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES

BELONG TO THE SOCIETY
Germany is a highly industrialized country. It English, we understood that they were unhappy
produces top brands like Benz, BMW, and about us wasting so much food. We immediately
Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made felt that they were really being too busybody
in a small town in this country. In such a country, "We paid for our food, it is none of your business
many will think its people lead a luxurious life. how much food we left behind," my colleague
At least that was my impression before my study told the old ladies. The old ladies were furious.
trip. One of them immediately took her hand phone
out and made a call to someone. After a while, a
When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues who
man in uniform claimed to be an officer from
work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party for
the Social Security organization arrived. Upon
me in a restaurant. As we walked into the
knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50
restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were
Mark fine. We all kept quiet. The local colleague
empty. There was a table where a young couple
took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly
was having their meal. There were only two
apologized to the officer.
dishes and two cans of beer on the table. I
wondered if such simple meal could be The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT
romantic, and whether the girl will leave this YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS YOURS BUT
stingy guy. RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE
MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING
There were a few old ladies on another table.
SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO
When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute
REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.
the food for them, and they would finish every
bit of the food on their plates. Our face turned red. We all agreed with him in
our hearts. The mindset of people of this rich
We did not pay much attention to them, as we
country put all of us to shame. WE REALLY NEED
were looking forward to the dishes we ordered.
TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from country which
As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered
is not very rich in resources.
more food for us. As the restaurant was quiet,
To save face, we order large quantity and also
the food came quite fast. Since there were other
waste food when we give others a treat. THIS
activities arranged for us, we did not spend much
LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON TO THINK
time dining. When we left, there was still about
SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.
one third of unconsumed food on the table.
My colleague photo stetted the fine ticket and
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard
gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir. All of us
someone calling us. We noticed the old ladies in
kept it and pasted on our wall to remind us that
the restaurant were talking about us to the
we shall never be wasteful.
restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in
34
May 2011
THE “RELEVANCE OF GANDHISM”
IN THE 21ST CENTURY
By
V.V.HARI PRASAD
“Sankar dada zindabad”, was the song to which
the mega star the heart throb of millions of fans
“Chinranjeevi” was dancing to the tunes and
music given by “Devisri Prasad”, one of the
maestros of westernized Indian music and the
hilarious masses were blowing whistles having
seen their favorite hero dancing on the big
screen. It was a remake of a Hindi movie “Lage
raho Munnabhai” into Telugu. As a “Common Man”
I was one of the audiences viewing the film and
was impressed by “Gandhigiri” scrupulously
followed by the hero in the film which ultimately
provided success in his endeavors in facing the
“Unscrupulous Villain” of the film. The million
dollar question that cropped up in my mind was
for “aam aadmi” or the common man “To what
extent “Gandhism” is relevant in the present
century”. Before going to bed that night I read
the book “All Men are brothers” as told by
Mahatma Gandhi in his own words. The thoughts
of Gandhigiri were lingering in my mind and I
went to bed.
An aged bespectacled person with the upper
portion of his body covered with a big woven
cloth, a dhoti, a supporting stick in his hand,
pleasing looks and a broad smile on his face was
35
VANA PREMI
walking towards me. His looks and smile made
me recognize him, as the father of the nation. I
recollected the words of Dr. S. Radha Krishnan
the former president of India who said, “It is our
pride that one of the greatest figures of history
lived in our generation, walked with us, spoke
to us, taught us the way civilized living”.
I was standing in front of such a great personality
dumb struck. My joy knew no bounds. He was
looking into my eyes “Probably the almighty
must have sent him to answer my questions.” I
felt. I was trying to gather courage to open my
mouth before him. I greeted him with folded
hands.
He asked me with a smiling face “My friend how
is everybody in our great country. Why are you
looking hesitant for talking with me?”
I got emboldened I have decided to open my
mouth and seek answers for the doubts that
have been pestering me for number of days.
I could recollect the celebration of Centenary
of Inter national women’s day in the month of
March and questioned him about the ways and
means for the emancipation of women from
male chauvinism. He said, “I believe in proper
May 2011
education of women. Women is the companion
of man gifted with equal mental capacities. She
is entitled to a supreme place in her own sphere
of activity as a man in his.”
He said further “To me the female sex is not the
weaker sex. It is the nobler of the two for it is
even today the embodiment of sacrifice, silent
suffering, humility and faith. To call woman the
weaker sex is a libel. It is man’s injustice to
woman. If by strength is meant brute strength,
then a woman is less brute than man. If by
strength is meant moral power then woman is
immeasurably man’s superior”. I was awe struck
with his reply and for the reverence he has
shown towards women. I recollected our old
scriptures where it was written, “Yathra Naryastu
Pujyante ramante thatra devataha.”
When I questioned him about the prevailing
religious fanaticism all over the world he
exhorted saying, “Religions are different roads
converging to the same point, what does it
matter that we take different roads, so long as
we reach the same goal? If man reaches the heart
of his own religion, he has reached the heart of
the other too”, there by rejecting the religious
fanaticism where ever and in which ever shape
it exists or surfaces from.
He added further,“God has created different faiths
just as he has the votaries there of. How can I
even secretly harbor the thoughts that my
36
VANA PREMI
neighbor’s faith is inferior to mine and wish that
he should give up his faith and embrace mine? I
can only wish and pray that he may live and grow
perfect, in his own faith. In God’s house there are
many mansions and they are equally holy”.
I was wonder struck by the view point of
Mahatma. I am sure that this kind of perception
of any religion shall definitely result in religious
tolerance and peaceful co-existence among all,
the people of our Greet Country.
The inquisitiveness in me made to put another
question to Mahatma having been encouraged
by his patient hearing and giving response with
a broad smile persisting on his face. I asked “Bapu
how do you feel about the tension prevailing
internationally and consequent mad race for
armament among the countries. He said, “If the
mad race for armaments continues it is bound
to result in a slaughter such as has never
occurred in the history. If there is a victor left the
very victory will be a living death for the nation
that emerges victorious.”
He said further, “Immediately the spirit of
exploitation is gone, armaments will be felt as a
positive, un-bearable burden. Real
disarmament can not come unless the nations
of the world cease to exploit one another”.
The forethought of Mahatma with regard to
disarmament, exploitation by nations is highly
relevant even today in the context of tensions
May 2011 VANA PREMI

prevailing among different countries namely initiated by “Mikhail Gorbachaw” and also
South Korea and North Korea, Pakistan and India because of the awareness brought out in the
and U.S.A and Iran. minds of poverty stricken faceless multitude of
that great county. The policy of “iron curtain” and
Regarding the economic disparities prevailing
communist ideology despising the very idea of
all over the world in general and in India in
“Capitalism” were not proved to be panacea for
particular he has stated in no uncertain terms “ I
the problems faced by the people of the
can not picture to my self a time when the rich
erstwhile USSR.
will spurn to enrich themselves at the expense
of the poor and the poor will cease to envy the I asked Mahatma, “how is non-violence relevant
rich. Even in a most perfect world, we shall fail to these days?.” Pat came the reply. He said, “Non-
avoid inequalities, but we can and must avoid Violence is not a resignation from all real fighting
strife and bitterness” against wickedness. On the contrary, the non-
violence of my conception is a more active and
He further added,” Exploitation of the poor can
real fight against wickedness than retaliation
be extinguished not by effecting the destruction
whose very nature is to increase wickedness. I
of a few millionaires, but by removing the
contemplate a mental therefore a moral
ignorance of the poor and teaching them to non-
opposition to immoralities. I seek entirely to
co-operate with their exploiters. That will
blunt the edge of the tyrants’ sword not by
convert the exploiters also. I have even
putting up against it a sharper edged weapon,
suggested that ultimately it will lead to both
but by disappointing his expectation that I
being equal partners. Capital as such is not evil.
would be offering physical resistance. The
It is its wrong use that is evil. Capital in some
resistance of the soul that I should offer would
form or other will always be needed.”
elude him.”
The developments that took place in the world
This great idea or a strategy of non-violence the
speak volumes of the right perspective of
brain child of Mahatma, has brought India its
Mahatma Gandhi in connection with the
independence form the colonial rule of the
alleviation of poverty and dogmatic belief in
British in 20th Century and it is very much
Particular theories. USSR could not retain its
relevant even now. The very fact that Barrack
identity as one geographical entity and was
Obama the president of U.S.A. who declared him
divided into Russia, Chechenya and other
self to be an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi and his
independent territories because of “Perestroika”

37
May 2011 VANA PREMI

“non-violence” was given an international award
“Noble prize for peace” for the role played by
him in espousing the cause for international
peace, and disarmament, stresses upon the
importance and relevance of peace and non-
violence even during this century. The vision of
Mahatma Gandhi surpasses that of any other
statesman in the world.
I prostrated before Mahatma Gandhi while
saying “Bapuji who can deny the fact that
Gandhism is very much relevant even today and
even during centuries to come?” Mahatma
Gandhi slowly disappeared while saying “Do not
worship me, worship my thoughts and follow
them for the benefit of mankind in general and
for the sake of our great country, India in
particular.”
I suddenly woke up. The milk vendor was
pressing the calling bell in such a manner that I
was forced to open my eyes and go running to
open the door. The great experience that I had
while conversing with a great soul came to an
end, abruptly. The milk vendor was looking at
me with disgust and anger in his eyes “ Sir I have
to supply milk to number of houses Please
receive the milk and let me go” he said and
vanished in no time from there. Plato said long
ago” There always are in the world a few inspired
men whose acquaintance is beyond price.” yes
I paid the price of pittance by incurring the
wrath of milk vendor in the process of having
acquaintance with a great soul “Mahatma
Gandhi” at least during my valuable dream. It is
true that the human mind in all its baffling
strangeness and vanity produces contrary types
a Buddha or Gandhi a Nero or a Hitler. As long as
the world exists Mahatma Gandhi will be
remembered as an epitome of non-violence, an
embodiment of patience and as one of the
greatest thinkers that this world has ever
produced. True statesmen that he was he said, “I
have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and
non-violence are as old as the hills.” Who has got
the audacity to say, “Gandhism is not relevant
today?”
Note by the writer: The excerpts quoted in this
article were taken from the book “ALL MEN ARE
BROTHERS” as told in Mahatma Gandhi’s own
words.

Achievement seems to be connected with

action. Successful men and women keep
moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t
quite. -(Conrad Hilton)

38
May 2011
NEWS AND NOTES
Rajasthan village sarpanch dazzles at UN
meet:-United Nations:- There was a sense of
disbelief among ministers and ambassadors
from diverse nations when the chairperson of
the 11th Info-Poverty World Conference held at
the United Nations introduced the jeans-clad
Chhavi Rajawat as head of a village in India.
For,from a distance one could easily mistake
Rajawat, an articulate, computer-savvy
woman,for a frontline model or at least a
Bollywood actress. But she is sarpanch of Soda
village,60 kilometers from Jaipur, in backward
Rajasthan and the changing face of growing
dynamic rural India.
30-year-old Rajawat quit her senior
management position with Bharti-Tele Ventures
of Airtel Group to serve her beloved villagers as
sarpanch.
Rajawat participated in a panel discussion at the
two-day meet at the UN on March 24 and 25 on
how civil society can implement its actions and
spoke on the role of civil society in fighting
poverty and promoting development.
It is necessary to re-think through various
strategies of action that includes new
technologies like e-services in achieving the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in an
era where resources have become limited, she
told the delegates of the conference.
If India continues to make progress at the same
pace as it has for the past 65 years since
independence, it just won't be good enough.
39
VANA PREMI
Well be failing people who dream about having
water, electricity, toilets, schools and jobs. I am
convinced we can do it differently and do it
faster. In the past year alone, I and the villagers
in Soda have brought about a radical change in
the village purely through our own efforts. We
have had no outside support, no NGO help, no
public, nor private sector help, she said.
On achieving Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), Rajawat said that she had sought full
support from outside agencies and the
corporate world.
I thank United Nations Office for Partnerships
(UNOP) which had deputed its senior adviser in
India Babu Lal Jain to visit Soda and extend all
support in the opening of the first bank in the
village. That made all the difference. In three
years I will transform my village. I don't want
money. I want people and organizations to
adopt projects in my village as often projects
fail owing to lack of a local connect and that is
what I am here to provide by bridging that gap.
I want the conference to help bring about faster
change so that this generation can enjoy that
kind of life that I and you in this audience take
for granted, she said to thunderous cheers from
the delegates.
2. Remarks of Environment Minister Mr. Jai
Ram Ramesh:- "I close my ears when the IT
czars are giving long lectures on green
buildings," says Environment Minister Jairam
Ramesh.
Contd. on page no. 21
May 2011 VANA PREMI

Birth Day Greetings

We wish the following born on the dates mentioned
“ A very Happy Birth Day”
S.No. Name of the member D.O.B. 3. B.Saidulu 09-05-1974
Sarva Sri 4. N.Nageshwara Rao 10-05-1971
1. G.Gurunathudu 10-05-1949 5. S.Kishan Das 10-05-1955
2. Qamar Mohd Khan 11-05-1947 6. K.Satyanarayana 15-05-1954
3. P.Laxma Reddy 13-05-1929 7. K.Sekhar Reddy 16-05-1956
4. M.Purshotham Reddy 14-05-1952 8. P.V.Ramana Kumar 16-05-1956
5. Shaik Noor Ahmed 22-05-1946 9. Ch.Ganga Reddy 19-05-1966
6. S.Rama Rao 25-05-1950 10. Y.Ramesh 20-05-1959
7. T.Samboji Rao 01-06-1948 11. G.N.Pavan Kumar Rao 20-05-1967
8. Y.Ram Mohan Rao 02-06-1941 12. K.Mahaboob Basha 21-05-1986
S.No. Name of the I.F.S. Oficer D.O.B. 13. P.Balaswamy 25-05-1960
Sarva Sri 14. V.Krishna 25-05-1966
1. B.Soma Sekara Reddy 10-05-1954 15. K.Pradeep 28-05-1954
2. M.A.Waheed 12-05-1953 16. Syed Meer 01-06-1954
3. S.Ramesh 19-05-1974 17. Ch.Parthananda Prasad 01-06-1954
4. B.S.Yousuf Sharief 23-05-1953 18. D.Chandrasekhar Rao 01-06-1959
5. M.Ramprasad 25-05-1955 19. Smt.N.Kshitija 01-06-1976
6. Chinmay Misra 25-05-1957 20. C.Viswanath 01-06-1954
7. C.Sarvanan 01-06-1978 21. T.Chakrapani 01-06-1966
8. Faujdar 25-05-1954 22. K.Ramakrishna 01-06-1963
9. M.Dharashanam 04-06-1951 23. P.Ramakrishna 02-06-1972
10. S.S.Sreedhar 04-06-1966 24. D.Ravindr 02-06-1982
S.No. Name of the S.F.S. Oficer D.O.B. 25. N.Ramprasad 04-06-1953
Sarva Sri 26. G.satyanarayana 04-06-1954
1. Smt.Shaik Jahida Asha 07-05-1975 27. Shaik Salaam 04-06-1963
2. M.Babji 08-05-1968 28. K.Srinivas 04-06-1977
S.K.
40
May 2011
LEGAL NOTES
D.F.O. Eluru vs. District Judge, West Godavari, Eluru & others
This is a unique case which describes very
succinctly how a Forest Settlement Officer
played fraud in collusion with the original
claimants and subsequent purchasers of land of
an extent of Acs. 342.50 (138.60 ha) and decided
to exclude from a proposed reserved forest in
Eluru Forest Division and West Godavari district.
The judgment of the District Judge on appeal
by the D.F.O., Eluru, judgment of a single judge of
High Court in a writ petition filed by the D.F.O.
and judgment on writ appeal preferred by the
D.F.O. have all gone against the Forest
Department. Even the Government was carried
away by the wrong representation and decided
to write to the Central Government for the
excision of the area from the proposed R.F. The
C.C.F. ( Vigilance) under the orders of the
Government meticulously carried out an
investigation and unearthed the fraud.
Consequently the D.F.O.’s Review Petition filed
in the High Court was allowed and all the orders
previously passed by the District Court and High
Court were set aside. A very interesting case in
deed!
Land of an extent of Acs. 4,900 in Bhogolu Forest
Block in Chintalapudi taluk in Eluru Forest
Division and West Godavari district was handed
over to the Forest Department in the year1952,
after abolition of estate of Inuganti Madhava Rao.
The area was declared under Sec. 26 of the
Madras Forest Act, 1882 and a notification to that
41
VANA PREMI
effect was issued in 1953.
Out of the total area taken over, an extent of Acs.
4,100 was demarcated and was proposed to be
constituted as reserved forest. Consequently, a
notification of Government under Sec. 4 of the
Andhra Pradesh Forest Act, 1967 was issued in
1970. The consequential proclamation of Forest
Settlement Officer under Sec. 6 of the Act was
published in 1977 whereby claims and
objections against the proposed reservation
were invited by the F.S.O.
In 1982, One Sri Inuganti Rama Krishna Ranga
Rao filed a sworn statement before the F.S.O. and
submitted that his grand father Inuganti
Madhava Rao held Shrotriam in Bhogolu and he
granted zamindari patta over land of an extent
of Acs. 342.50 in Sy. No. 537, to himself and others
of his family in 1931. The pattadars sold away
these lands to 28 individuals. The 28 persons also
filed petitions before the F.S.O. with a request to
settle their claims.
The F.S.O. admitted their claims after enquiry on
18th, 20th, and 21st October 1984 and 7th
November 1984. He addressed a letter to the
Secretary to Government in Forest Department
on 18.12.1984 alleging that the D.F.O. Eluru did
not file counter to the claim petitions. On
inspection of the claimed lands, the F.S.O. found
eucalyptus plantations raised by the A.P. Forest
Development Corporation. He proposed to the
Government for the exclusion of the claimed
May 2011
lands from the proposed R.F. and suggested that
necessary permission in terms of Sec. 2 of the
Forest Conservation Act be obtained from the
Central Government.
The D.F.O. Eluru filed an appeal against the
decision of the F.S.O. in the District Court which
was dismissed on 17.10.1988. The D.F.O. then
challenged the judgment of the District Court
by filing writ petition No. 12394 of 1989, which
was dismissed on 04.12.1995. Thereupon writ
appeal No. 82 of 1998 was filed against the
judgment of the single judge which was also
dismissed by a Division Bench on 25.01. 2002.
The Government directed the Principal CCF on
01.4.2003 to furnish proposals under Sec. 2 of
the Forest Conservation Act seeking permission
of the Central Government for exclusion of Acs.
342.50 from the proposed reserved forest. But
stayed the orders on 11.10.2004 and directed
the CCF (Vigilance) to cause an enquiry into the
claims.
The CCF (Vigilance) in his discreet enquiry found
that the office record of the Mandal Revenue
Officer has been tampered and the claim of
Inuganti Rama Krishna Ranga Rao before the FSO
is fictitious and untenable.
In W.P. No. 11419 of 2006, Inuganti Rama Krishna
Ranga Rao requested the court to direct the
State Government to make an application to the
Central Government under Sec. 2 of the Forest
Conservation Act and for the Central
Government to consider the said application of
the State Government. It was also requested
42
VANA PREMI
further to declare that the State Government’s
order issued in Memo dated 11.10.2004 is illegal
and void. The writ petition was allowed on
19.01.2009 with direction to the Government
to take appropriate action. Aggrieved by the
judgment of the single judge, W.A. No. 1123 of
2009 was filed by the DFO. The Division Bench in
its order dated 08.09.2009 noted the
submissions of the Government Pleader that
fraud committed earlier had come to light and
that the State would file a review application
seeking review of the judgment in W.A. 82 of
1998. Permission was accorded for withdrawal
of appeal in W.A. No. 1123 of 2009 which was
disposed of as withdrawn.
Review application WAMP No. 2601 of 2009 is
taken on file and judgment in WA No. 82 of 1998
is reviewed. The matter is considered by a
Division Bench comprising V.V.S. Rao and
Rameshranganathan, JJ. The facts placed before
the Division Bench are astounding and are the
outcome of strenuous effort made by CCF
(Vigilance). The facts placed before the court are
minutely examined and it was inferred that the
proceedings dated 18.12.1984 of the FSO is the
outcome of fraud played by the FSO in collusion
with the pattadars and their vendees.
It was held that fraud vitiates every act. Fraud
and justice never dwell together. A judgment or
an order obtained by playing fraud is a nullity
and non est in the eye of law.
Though the FSO has stated that he has issued
notice to the DFO enclosing copies of claims but
May 2011 VANA PREMI
no notice was issued to the DFO intimating him are set aside. The court was convinced that the
of the dates of enquiry held by him. The vendees order of the FSO was wangled and obtained
have not produced sale deeds and Patta Pass through fraud or misrepresentation.
Books in proof of having purchased the lands.
It is contended that the FSO gave his decision in
FSO has ignored the provision of law which
favour of the claimants which is affirmed by the
states that during the period between the
District Judge and upheld by the Single Judge
notification under section 4 and the date fixed
of the High Court. Therefore that order of Single
by the notification under section 15, no rights
Judge has attained finality and therefore it must
shall be acquired by any person in respect of
be given effect to. Adverting to the contention
the lands included in the proposed reserved
it was held that the principle of ‘finality of
forest. The subject lands were originally classified
litigation’ cannot be pressed to the extent of
as ‘Adavi’ (Forest). Names of the individuals are
such absurdity that it becomes an engine of fraud
incorporated by tampering record in the Mandal
in the hands of dishonest litigants. This
Revenue Office. One of the original claimants,
contention was therefore rejected. The order of
who claim that patta was granted to him, was
the single judge is based on the decision of the
not born even by the date of alleged grant of
FSO which is set aside as it has been obtained
patta. Original claimants have not declared the
by fraud. The question of obtaining permission
extent of lands in the proposed R.F. in their
of Central Government for exclusion of the land
declaration under the Land Reforms Act.
does not arise.
A litigant who approaches court is bound to Quotable Point: Fraud – A judgment or a decree
produce all the documents executed by him obtained by playing fraud on court is a nullity and
which are relevant to the litigation. If he non est in the eye of law
withholds he would be guilty of playing fraud on KBR 2011 (2) A L T 130 (DB)
the court. The scope and meaning of the word,
‘Fraud’, is explained by referring to its meaning Author’s Note: The land of an extent of Acs. 342.50
in many dictionaries including legal dictionaries was almost lost under various judgments. It is
and quoting extensively from case law on the the investigation made by CCF (Vigilance) which
subject. retrieved the department’s prestige. Hats off to
all those forest officers and Government Pleader
Review petition and writ appeal filed by the State
for their efforts and effective presentation of the
are allowed awarding exemplary costs of Rs.
case, though belatedly. Kudos to the DFO Eluru
50,000/- and the respondents are required to pay
for his perseverance.
the costs within two months. The orders of
District Judge which affirmed the order of FSO

43
May 2011 VANA PREMI

OBITUARY
T. Rama Krishna
17-02-1944 - 11-04-2011
With profound sorrow we record the demise of Mr.Tummala Rama Krishna, IFS
(Retd) who passed away on 11.04.2011 at 10-30 p.m. He was ailing for some
time in the past. He was 67.
Mr T. Rama Krishna was born on 17.02.1944 at Vijayawada. He was the second
son and fourth child of Sri Tummala Venkateshwara Rae and Smt Tummala
Gangabai. Sri Tummala Venkateshwara Rae retired as Post Master General of Anhdra Circle with
jurisdiction over A.P.& Tamil Nadu. Sri T. Rama Krishna had his schooling at Machilipatnam and College
education up to graduation at City College, Hyderabad. He did M.Sc. in Zoology from Osmania University,
Hyderabad. He was selected for the Andhra Pradesh State Forest Service in March 1965 and deputed for
training in forestry at Indian Forest College, Dehra Dun from April 1965 to March 1967.
Mr T. Rama Krishna also underwent training in Wildlife Management at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra
Dun. He was appointed by promotion to Indian Forest Service with 1972 as year of allotment. He was
promoted to the highest rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and retired on superannuation
in the year 2004.
Mr T. Rama Krishna held very important assignments. He was one of the most sought after officer in the
Department and was considered as one of the top authorities on wildlife. Along with Late Mr Push
Kumar, Former Principal Chef Conservator of Forests, Rama Krishna was credited with improvement
and modernising the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad and establishment of Zoological parks at
Visakhapatnam and Tirupathi. The two stalwarts were also credited with establishment of large number
of sanctuaries and National Parks in the State. Rama Krishna was the man behind the, design and
developmet of the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National park in Jublee Hills which is popularly known as
K.B.R. Park. After retairment Mr. T. Ramakrishna acted as Consultant to many of the Zoological Parks in
the Country. He had the unique distinction of being a Member of the Zoo Authority of India. He was a
keen sportsman and always associated with State and National level sports of the Department.
Some of the important positions he held were (i) Curator, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (ii) Divisional
Forest Officer, Eluru (iii) Curator, Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad (iv) Director, Nehru Zoological Park,
Hyderabad (v) Conservator of Forests, Hyderabad Circle (vi) Conservator of Forests Wildlife Circle (vii) Chief
Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) (viii) Addl. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief
Wildlife Warden for A.P State (ix) Managing Director, Agro Industries Development Corporation, Govt. of
A.P (X) Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Managing Director, A.P Forest Development Corporation.
Mr Rama Krishna was known for his hospitality and amiability. He was very popular among his colleagues.
Mr. Rama Krishna is fondly remembered by a large number of his colleagues, relatives and friends. He is
survived by Mrs Laxmi (Wife), Anirudh (Son) living in U.S.A.; Mrs Deepti (Daughter) living in Netherlands;
and three grandchildren. May God give the survivors, strength to bear the loss.
May the noble soul rest in peace ! M. Sulthan Mohiuddin
44
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