NGO’S PLEA ON TRIBAL RIGHTS ADMITTED- Deccan Chronicle 2-2-10
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Anil R. Dave and Justice C.V.Nagarjuna Reddy of the High Court on Monday admitted a public interest writ petition filed by sakti, a non-governmental organization working for tribal welfare.
The petitioner complained to the court that the law regarding protection of rights of tribals over forest lands is being defeated. The NGO While seeking a direction not to evict forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes, alleged that the whole process of recognition and vesting of forest lands is reversed by making the tribe an applicant and the authorities granting rights rather than recognizing and identifying the tribe and vesting the forest rights on the basis of the official documents.
The petitioner further alleged that the authorities failed to enumerate the community lands and the present action would jeopardize the interests of all the 33 tribal communities in the area. The court granted four weeks to the authorities to respond.