New Delhi, May 2 -- Construction of houses in forest area The Supreme Court, on April 29, 2025, asked the Madhya Pradesh goernment and the Centre whether it is permissible to build houses in forest areas and, if so, what the provisions are.

The bench comprising justices Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi instructed both the state of Madhya Pradesh and the central government, via the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), to submit detailed affidavits outlining the provisions for constructing houses in forest areas, if permitted.

The affidavits, to be submitted in three weeks, should also include the relevant rules and regulations, the order stated.

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