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Keralam Government to Widen Probe into 2021 Muttil Tree-Felling Case
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News18•03-10-2026, 13:30
Keralam Government to Widen Probe into 2021 Muttil Tree-Felling Case
- •Keralam Minister Shibu Baby John announced the government will consider widening the probe into the 2021 Muttil tree-felling case in Wayanad, alleging a government order (GO) was exploited for large-scale illegal tree felling.
- •The case involves a 2020 GO, allegedly issued by then Revenue Secretary A Jayathilak, allowing farmers to fell trees on assigned land, which was later misused for felling high-value trees in Muttil.
- •The minister emphasized the need to investigate the conspiracy behind the incident, including the circumstances that led to a change in the official position on tree felling, and stated a joint examination by Revenue, Forest, and Law departments would occur.
- •He highlighted that the issue extends beyond Muttil, with allegations of widespread exploitation where poor people and Scheduled Tribes were used as fronts for illegal activities, receiving nominal payments.
- •Concerns were raised about delays in initiating an inquiry, with a committee formed in 2021 not holding a single sitting, and the minister asserted that a government order cannot override an act passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly.
Key Questions Answered
The case pertains to a government order allegedly issued in October 2020 by the then Revenue Secretary A Jayathilak, which allowed farmers to fell trees on land assigned under the Kerala Land Assignment Rules, but was allegedly exploited to smuggle high-value trees.
Three brothers are accused of selling timber that they had allegedly cut and transported illegally from Muttil village in the Wayanad district.
The Kerala government is considering widening the probe into the incident following a joint examination by the Revenue, Forest, and Law departments to investigate the conspiracy behind the order and subsequent violations.
