The Reserve forest area in the Nilgiris is now off limits for everyone including the tourist and also Nilgiris Wildlife and Environment Association and will open only to the forest officials discharging their official functions. Justice N Kirubakaran passed a petition filled by L. Seetharaman an advocate who sought a directive to the authorities to verify newly appointed members of the association in the interest of forest and also remove the members who are unconnected with cause of conservation and with criminal antecedents. He also directed the Nilgiris collector to issue a circular regarding the individual members and public notice to the general public and through websites inviting objections or details of the antecedents of the members of the association. The judge said as per the collectors counter affidavit the association was not functioning according to the needs and members were very in fighting for their own membership gave a social status to cliame they were environment and wildlife servants. The reserve forest area is being used for the recreational activities not only by the members but also by the guests of the association members also. Though it is not stated in the counter affidavit about the role of some of the forest officials all the arguments are being put forth by the members.