J&K sees over 85% forest rights claims rejected

Srinagar, July 24: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded one of the highest rejection rates of land claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, with over 85 percent of applications filed by tribal communities and traditional forest dwellers being turned down, official data reveals.As per figures reviewed exclusively by Rising Kashmir, out of 46,090 total claims submitted across the Union Territory up to May 31, only 6,020 titles have been approved — comprising 5,591 community rights and just 429 individual claims. In contrast, 39,924 claims have been rejected — including 32,727 individual and 7,197 community claims. The numbers place J&K among the poorest performing regions in India regarding recognition of tribal land rights, despite the FRA’s stated purpose of safeguarding forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest inhabitants from historical injustices. The FRA was extended to Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Since then, numerous tribal groups have voiced concerns over its poor implementation, alleging forcible evictions, procedural lapses, and a lack of legal aid and outreach.Section 4(5) of the Act clearly prohibits eviction of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes or traditional forest dwellers until their claims are fully adjudicated. Yet, with more than four out of every five claims rejected, many fear that the law is being undermined at the grassroots. Across India, approximately 5.12 million claims have been filed under the FRA, with around 49 percent receiving approval. Jammu and Kashmir, however, lags far behind with a dismal 13 percent approval rate, highlighting a worrying gap between policy and practice.