Tribal Affairs Department Directs DCs to Expedite Forest Rights Act Claims

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Tribal Affairs Department has directed all Deputy Commissioners to expedite the verification and settlement of claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, through the statutory three-tier mechanism.
The directions were issued through a government circular aimed at ensuring timely recognition of forest rights while safeguarding the legal entitlements of eligible Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.
The department, headed by Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, has instructed district administrations to complete the claim verification and settlement process and submit completion certificates after finalisation.
The circular reiterates that under Section 4(5) of the Forest Rights Act, no forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other traditional forest dweller can be evicted from forest land under his or her occupation until the statutory recognition and verification process is completed.
It also reaffirmed the role of the Gram Sabha under Section 6 of the Act in receiving, scrutinising and verifying claims before forwarding recommendations to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee (SDLC). Appeals against Gram Sabha decisions lie before the SDLC, while appeals against SDLC decisions are heard by the District Level Committee (DLC), whose decision is final.
The department clarified that the Act also applies to urban and municipal areas, where the functions of the Gram Sabha will be performed by Ward Committees or assemblies of adult residents wherever applicable.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to implementing the legislation in letter and spirit, Minister Javed Ahmed Rana said the Forest Rights Act seeks to protect the legitimate rights of tribal communities while ensuring social justice and livelihood security.
He emphasised that any eviction, wherever legally warranted, must strictly follow the due process prescribed under the Act and Supreme Court guidelines.
“The basic rights of tribal communities cannot be snatched and every action must remain within the framework of law and justice,” the Minister said.