Twenty-two students from Madurai and Trichy districts have been shortlisted for the zonal-level competition
Madurai: The Supreme Court on Friday constituted a special committee headed by former Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, to scrutinise the orders passed by the competent authorities under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, in Megamalai.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that it is clear that the state govt is primarily responsible for the delay in the process of receiving, identifying and adjudicating the claims under the FRA, 2006. As per the submission of the state, around 40 Gram Sabhas have become functional and have started the process of inviting claims. The process of setting up of the Gram Sabhas appears to have been initiated in the last few months only.
Before the court took cognizance of the encroachments in the forest area, even the Gram Sabhas had not been constituted.
Since the FRA, 2006 is a beneficial legislation recognising the rights of FDST and OTFD, by way of indulgence, the court grants a last opportunity of 30 days to the state govt to complete the formation of the remaining Gram Sabhas. The committee shall scrutinise the orders passed by the competent authorities under the FRA, 2006, in respect of the claims received and shall submit its report to the court in a sealed cover. The judges observed that persons under Category II (those cultivating with temporary residence) and Category III (those residing outside the forest boundary and cultivating), as classified in the additional affidavit filed by Tamil Nadu revenue department, shall be excluded from consideration as Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes or Other Traditional Forest Dwellers for the purposes of the FRA, 2006.
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