New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) A recent verdict by the Chhattisgarh High Court overturning forest rights granted to a village community in the Hasdeo Aranya region has ignited sharp criticism from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
The judgment, which cited prior land diversion for mining and claimed that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 does not override state control over mineral resources beneath forest land, has raised fears about the erosion of indigenous rights.
Addressing the ruling on social media platform X, Ramesh voiced his strong disapproval: “In the latest of a series of unacceptable and unprecedented events since the Modani Government took power in Chhattisgarh, a single-judge Bench has set aside forest rights granted to the Ghatbarra village community under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.”
He questioned the court’s reasoning, asserting, “The FRA guarantees villagers access to forest produce, a right that cannot be sustained without land rights. Making this conditional on government policy undermines the entire foundation of the FRA. This is a dangerous precedent.”
The case centers on community forest rights recognized for the Ghatbarra villagers—Scheduled Tribes and traditional forest dwellers with generational ties to Hasdeo Aranya’s forests. The FRA was enacted to protect such rights, vesting legal ownership and occupation to communities living in forests.
Critics warn this decision risks prioritizing mining and industrial interests over the socio-economic and environmental well-being of indigenous populations. The verdict could trigger displacement, disrupt livelihoods, and cause irreparable damage to the fragile forest ecosystem.
As the debate intensifies, the ruling raises urgent questions about balancing developmental ambitions with the constitutional rights of forest-dwelling communities—highlighting the fragile state of environmental justice in resource-rich regions like Hasdeo Aranya.
