New Delhi, May 16 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday directed all the states and Union territories to constitute special investigation teams (SITs) to restore forest lands that have been illegally allotted to private entities and recover costs in cases where taking back possession was not in larger public interest. The direction came in a judgment delivered in a matter related to "illegal" allotment of 11.89-hectare reserved forest land in Pune, Maharashtra to a housing society - Richie Rich Cooperative Housing Society Limited (RRCHS) - in October 1999. The court in its order called out the role of then Maharashtra revenue minister and then divisional commissioner, who ensured the allotment of land to the housing society by bypassing the Forest Conservation Act, objections raised by bureaucrats on the land meant for agricultural purpose, and a 1996 top court verdict in the landmark TN Godavarman case that gave an expansive meaning to the definition of forests under the FC Act. A bench headed by chief justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai directed all states and UTs to constitute SIT to examine if any of the reserved forest land under the revenue department has been allotted to any private individuals for purpose other than the forestry purpose....