India, Dec. 23 -- The Supreme Court on Monday slammed the Uttarakhand Government over the grabbing of forest land, observing that the State Government and its authorities were sitting like "mute spectators", and initiated a suo motu case. A vacation bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the chief secretary of Uttarakhand to form an inquiry committee and submit a report.

"What is shocking to us is that the State of Uttarakhand and authorities are sitting like mute spectators when forest land is being grabbed in front of their eyes. Thus, we initiate a suo motu case. "Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand and the Principal Conservation Secretary are instructed to form a fact-finding committee and submit a report. ...