STATE OF KERALA vs SUNIL KUMAR. S .

The Supreme Court addressed the legality of a Kerala High Court decision that varied a Single Judge's order regarding the grant of lease for encroached forest land under Article 226 of the Constitution. The Court held that the State must seek prior approval from the Central Government before granting leases on encroached land, as mandated by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The ruling emphasized the necessity of compliance with statutory provisions concerning forest land, thereby upholding the High Court's directive for adherence to the law.