Maintaining that a 2013 Government Order (GO) on filming of commercial movies and TV serials in forest areas, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves did not have the force of law, the Kerala High Court has held that there is no legislation that permitted the shooting of commercial movies in such places.
The State government’s reliance on the GO and a fee that had been prescribed for shooting movies in such protected areas is without statutory support and a clear policy framework. Permitting commercial filmmaking and TV serials cannot be approached in a pedantic manner, and the State has to consider not only the statutory provision but also the settled principles of environmental governance, the court said.
It further directed the government to issue appropriate follow-up instructions in this regard to Forest department officials within four weeks.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji issued the directive disposing of a petition by Angels Nair, general secretary of Animal Legal Force Integration, Ernakulam, challenging the permission granted to shoot a movie in a forest area.
Published – July 28, 2025 10:11 pm IST
