Chennai, Oct 9, 2025

The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Erode district administration and Forest Department to take stringent action against all illegal resorts and tourist lodges operating within the prohibited zones of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).

The court also sought a detailed action-taken report within four weeks. A First Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan issued the directive while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by environmental activist R. Karpagam, 57, from Coimbatore.

The petitioner alleged that 47 resorts and lodges were functioning illegally inside STR without the necessary statutory clearances.

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate S.P. Chockalingam told the Bench that the

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