Supreme Court Rules Forest Rights Act Does Not Protect Commercial Farming on Forest Land

Commercial farming inside reserve forests does not receive legal protection under the Forest Rights Act of 2006. The Supreme Court drew a clear line between commercial growers and traditional forest communities who depend on forest lands for their daily survival. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued this view in an order that looked at large-scale silk cotton farming inside the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.

Court Directives And Findings

The bench directed the Central Empowered Committee to study the Tamil Nadu government view that silk cotton counts as a minor forest produce. Out of a total of 5,072.64 hectares of forest land in question, silk cotton currently covers 3,637.83 hectares. The court rejected the state claim that this farming has a long history and justifies continued occupation. Government affidavits showed that authorities promoted and sponsored the crop for commercial gain. Justice Mehta noted that planned commercial farming goes against the idea of naturally growing forest produce and threatens to change the fundamental nature of the forest. Large areas of forest land suffered destruction under the name of silk cotton farming.

Context

The Forest Rights Act of 2006 aims to protect tribal groups and traditional dwellers who have lived in harmony with forests for generations. Reserve forests are strictly protected areas where commercial activities face severe legal limits to prevent ecological damage. Courts routinely examine state policies that allow commercial use of these protected ecological zones.