Now Reading: Agasthyamalai evictions renew questions over forest rights
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Agasthyamalai evictions renew questions over forest rights
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has issued eviction notices to thousands of households in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, alleging encroachment on forest land, The Hindu reports. The action follows Supreme Court directions…
The Story in Brief
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has issued eviction notices to thousands of households in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, alleging encroachment on forest land, The Hindu reports. The action follows Supreme Court directions based on Central Empowered Committee findings for a time-bound eviction plan, rehabilitation where applicable, legal action and ecological restoration.
The Forest Rights Act, 2006, protects claims by forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers until recognition and verification are complete. The Hindu says authorities have not publicly separated occupations covered by the Act from actual encroachments. The Supreme Court ordered the CEC to survey the reserve, which spans Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Its interim report was submitted in July 2025 and final report on January 16, 2026.
The Indian Opinion
The easy story is that every household facing eviction is either an innocent forest dweller or a wilful encroacher. Neither claim can replace the Forest Rights Act’s process. Gram sabhas and statutory committees must first verify eligible claims, while genuine violations still require action. The test is simple: will officials publish district-wise data showing how many notices concern pending claims, rejected claims and proven encroachments?
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
