Guwahati, March 5 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a stern warning to the Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories, stating that they would personally face accountability if they failed to set up expert committees within one month to identify forests in their jurisdictions.

The Court also directed the preparation of consolidated records of these forests within six months.

The Bench, led by Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih, acted after Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati reported that many States had not yet formed expert committees, as required by a Supreme Court judgment from December 12, 1996, and subsequent orders.

Bhati also mentioned that most States had not completed consolidating fores...