J&K Govt orders “No Eviction” from forest land till FRA claims are verified
The Jammu and Kashmir Government today directed all Deputy Commissioners to ensure that no forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other traditional forest dweller is evicted or removed from forest land under their occupation until the process of recognition and verification of their rights is completed under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.
In a circular issued by the Tribal Affairs Department on July 30, 2026, the government reminded all stakeholders of the statutory protection available under Section 4(5) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
The circular states that “No member of a forest dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other traditional forest dweller shall be evicted or removed from forest land under his occupation till the recognition and verification procedure is complete”.
The department has instructed Deputy Commissioners to expedite the process of seeking, verifying and settling individual and community forest rights claims through the three-tier mechanism comprising the Gram Sabha (or Ward Committee in urban areas), Sub-Divisional Level Committee and District Level Committee. It has also directed them to furnish a certificate confirming completion of the exercise in the prescribed format.
The circular reiterates that the Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process of determining forest rights by receiving, verifying and recommending claims before forwarding them to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee. It also highlights the appellate mechanism available to aggrieved claimants up to the District Level Committee.
Additionally, the Tribal Affairs Department has reiterated the applicability of the Forest Rights Act to municipal and urban areas, in line with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ Office Memorandum dated March 5, 2015, under which Ward Committees or assemblies of adult residents perform the functions of the Gram Sabha for processing forest rights claims.
The circular, issued by Commissioner/Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department Prasanna Ramaswamy G., emphasizes that the legal protection against eviction remains in force until the recognition and verification process under the Forest Rights Act is fully completed.
The circular comes following demolition of about 30 hutments in the forest area near here that triggered widespread criticism of the government in the month of May. The demolition squad was allegedly led by a BJP leader.
Jammu and Kashmir Forest Minister Javed Ahmed Rana ordered a probe into the anti-encroachment drive carried out by the Forest Department in the Raika Bandi forest belt on the outskirts of Jammu city, alleging excesses during the operation.
Police and Forest Department teams demolished over 30 structures and retrieved nearly 60 kanals of forest land in the lower Shivalik range area, officials said.
Reacting to the operation, Rana said he had directed an inquiry into the role of the Forest Department and would request Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take action against police personnel involved in alleged excesses during the drive.
Meanwhile, hailing the “historic step” by the government headed by CM Omar Abdullah, the ruling National Conference said a clear, decisive executive guidelines to protect Tribals from displacement has been issued.
“The Department of Tribal Affairs, under the leadership of Hon’ble Cabinet Minister @JavedRanaa has issued a landmark circular directing the completion of the claim verification and settlement process under the Forest Rights Act and reiterating the legal safeguards available to tribal communities”, NC wrote on X.