{"id":11180,"date":"2025-09-30T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vaidsics.com\/anthropology\/?p=11180"},"modified":"2026-09-09T13:07:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:07:38","slug":"sacred-groves-deemed-forests-supreme-court-upsc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vaidsics.com\/anthropology\/sacred-groves-deemed-forests-supreme-court-upsc\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacred Groves Recognised as “Deemed Forests”: A Landmark Supreme Court Ruling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: Scroll.in | January 8, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a historic step for environmental conservation, the Supreme Court of India<\/strong> has recognised sacred groves<\/em> as \u201cdeemed forests.\u201d<\/strong> This ruling, delivered on December 18, 2024<\/strong>, expands the very definition of what qualifies as a forest in India, blending ecological science with cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

A Broader Understanding of Forests<\/h2>\n

The roots of this decision can be traced back to the 1996 Supreme Court judgement<\/strong>, which broadened the definition of \u201cforest.\u201d The Court ruled that the term must be understood in its dictionary meaning<\/strong>\u2014irrespective of ownership, legal status, or vegetation type.<\/p>\n

This inclusive interpretation paved the way for recognising sacred groves<\/strong>\u2014patches of land traditionally protected by local communities for their spiritual significance\u2014as forests deserving protection.<\/p>\n

Sacred Groves as Deemed Forests<\/h2>\n

The December 18 order goes beyond traditional parameters like forest density or government classification. It acknowledges that:<\/p>\n