Supreme Court To Decide The Fate Of Millions Of Adivasis

Today on 22nd July, there are multiple protests and demonstrations across the country by several Adivasi and Forest rights organisations. These protests are urging the Supreme Court and the government of India to look into the hearing on 24th July which could possibly decide the fate of millions of Adivasis and forest dwellers.

At Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, several national-level organisations including AIKS (All India Kisan Sabha), AIUFWP (All Indian Union of forest working people) and MKSS (Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti)  came together and urged the Supreme Court to uphold the forest rights act which guarantees justice from historical denial of land rights to Adivasis and forest dwellers.

Here is a brief discussion between our team member Ankush and Roma Malik of AIUFWP.

Ankush: What according to you are the possibilities at the Supreme Court on forced evictions hearing on July 24th?

Roma: We are eagerly waiting for the Supreme Court hearing on 24th July. I am of the opinion that the Supreme Court will have to think about this seriously. It is quite possible that they may give an extension of the date. I don’t think that the Supreme Court will take stringent action, I say this because I have seen intense objection and protests to the Supreme Court order across the country. I am saying this on the basis of these intense objections. Otherwise, we know very clearly that the government and businesses are hand-in-glove. But, we have complete faith in our legal system. It is very important for the credibility and dignity of the supreme court to act upon this thoughtfully.

Ankush: We have seen in the case of states like Odisha where false Gram Sabhas were conducted and mass rejection of forest rights applications was undertaken. How can these applicants appeal?

Roma: In most states, this has been the situation. They have not consulted the gram sabha and the due process has not been followed. They will again have to go back to the gram sabha. The forest rights act does not speak about rejection at all, it only talks about recognition. When there is no scope for rejection in the law why is supreme Court going out of its jurisdiction? It has no power to do that. The law has been passed in the parliament and it is the parliament where it should be brought up. Is the supreme court going to decide on laws passed in the parliament? Then all are fundamental rights are in danger and if those rights are also not safe then where will we go?

In Assam, we have seen 40 lakh people removed from the NRC registry and I am sure 20 lakh people are being evicted from forests. So similar to what Hitler did in Germany, we are evicting 60 lakh people and putting them in death camps. Where will they go? On top of that, the administration is firing at innocent Adivasis.

In Sonbhadra, there has been firing on Adivasis; I have been working in that area for 20 years. This is the same story in each village of that region. In the case of Sukalo and Kismatiya Gond, it was a similar story but that did not get national attention. Because the movement was with them that’s why the women did not get raped or murdered. The murders in Sonbhadra are a clear forest rights issue. These murders are impossible without the knowledge of government administration. In 2001, when Rajnath Singh was the Chief Minister, 20 Adivasis were killed by calling them Maoists. Now, similar murders are taking place.

Source: Supreme Court To Decide The Fate Of Millions Of Adivasis