Ahead of SC hearing, rights bodies ask Centre to defend Forest Rights Act, Pg 14

Key Highlights

Background of the Issue

• 114 rights and environmental groups demand Centre defend Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 in Supreme Court.
• FRA recognizes individual and community rights of forest-dwelling tribes and traditional forest dwellers.

Legal Challenge & Procedural Issues

• FRA challenged in 2008 (Wildlife First vs Union of India); SC ordered evictions in 2019 for rejected claims.
• Ministry intervened citing procedural lapses; SC stayed eviction.

Concerns Raised by Activists

• States still ignore FRA procedures, using satellite imagery instead of Gram Sabha decisions.
• Accusations of wrongful rejections, lack of field verification, and haphazard reviews.

Demands to the Government

• Centre must seriously defend FRA to uphold rights of Adivasi communities.
• Ensure proper review mechanisms and uphold the role of Gram Sabhas.

Analysis & Way Forward

• FRA is central to protecting tribal autonomy and ecological justice.
• Implementation must uphold due process, ensure community participation, and resist technocratic overreach.

Mains Mock Question:

"Discuss the significance of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 in protecting tribal rights. What are the challenges in its implementation and how can they be addressed?"