SC eviction order in Agasthyamalai triggers protest in Theni

The Story in Brief

Hundreds of Megamalai residents protested at the Theni collectorate on Friday against the Supreme Court order directing the eviction of people from over 50 villages in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. The order, based on a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) report, mandates a time-bound removal of encroachments and allows paramilitary deployment if the state fails to comply. Protesters, including local MPs and MLAs, demanded a review petition and rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The Supreme Court had directed the CEC to survey the landscape after reports of non-forestry violations. The CEC submitted its final report in January 2026. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has issued eviction notices to thousands of households, alleging encroachment. The FRA, enacted in 2006, provides a process for forest dwellers to claim rights, but implementation has been poor.

The New Indian Express reports that leaders from multiple parties joined the protest. CPM state secretary P Shanmugam called the suggestion of paramilitary deployment unprecedented and condemned it. He argued that residents are not encroachers but rightful inhabitants, and the government failed to issue pattas.