A. Chowgule & Co. Ltd vs Goa Foundation & Ors

The Supreme Court ruled that the Memorandum of Lease dated 1st November 1989, executed under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, was valid as the land was classified as Revenue Land and not forest area. The Court emphasized that the necessary approvals under Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act must be obtained for any non-forest use of land. The appeal was allowed, affirming the legality of the lease and the appellant's right to proceed with the project, thereby quashing the writ petition filed by the respondents.