CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned not to fell trees or alienate any land, particularly from sanctuaries, national parks, bio-spheres (reserved area) by issuing pattas or by any other means of alienation. A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice I.M. Quddushi and Justice B.P. Ray passed the interim order on a PIL challenging the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. The prayer of the PIL filed by Retired Forest Officers' Association of Orissa was to restrain authorities from giving effect to the provisions of the Act - popularly known as Forest Rights Act - which was notified on January 2, 2008. While passing the interim order, the bench also admitted the intervention made by three organisations called Forest Rights Committee, Kui Samaj Samiti and Orissa Adivasi Manch. The three tribal bodies submitted that they have a say in the case since it concerns interest of tribals. In February, the Madras High Court had passed a similar order restraining authorities from felling trees and alienating land, particularly from sanctuaries, national parks, bio-spheres (reserved area) by issuing pattas or any other means of alienation.