Shimla, Jan 23,
In an emerging development Himachal Pradesh Forest Department likely to go through various check and balance before evicting farmers in the state as decision was taken in a high level meeting held under the special anti encroachment panel at Rohru in December.
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This decision came to light following a high-level meeting of the Encroachment Monitoring Committee on December 24 at the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Rohru, chaired by N. Ravishankar Sarma, IFS. The committee, comprising revenue officers, forest officials, and field staff, decided that all pending encroachment cases in the Rohru Forest Division would adhere to the structured Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) laid down by the Supreme Court to ensure procedural fairness, transparency, and compliance with laws.
Noteworthy that this directive may bring respite for individuals accused of encroaching on government forest land in Himachal Pradesh as the ruling brings forth sufficient opportunity to present their case before eviction notices are issued.
The meeting emphasized implementing the SOP based on the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Babu Ram vs. State of Himachal Pradesh case. The Court had highlighted procedural lapses in eviction cases, including the lack of prior notice to encroachers, insufficient involvement of affected parties, and inadequate time to respond.
In this landmark ruling, the Court invalidated the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s previous order directing the eviction of Babu Ram and others, noting that the Forest Department had failed to follow due process. The Supreme Court instructed the state to reinitiate action in encroachment cases, ensuring demarcation is completed within two months and all affected parties are given a fair chance to be heard.
Also read:Himachal High court orders batch-wise adjudication of forest land encroachment cases
In this meeting the Encroachment Monitoring Committee reviewed 943 pending eviction cases under the jurisdiction of the court of the DFO-cum-Collector and mandated a monthly resolution schedule of 4-5 cases per range and tehsil. Officials were directed to expedite the resolution of 34 delayed complaints, which had been stalled due to postponed demarcations.
Measures to prevent re-encroachment were also discussed, including digital mapping and securing evicted lands through fencing and plantation work. Revenue authorities were asked to collaborate closely with forest officials to ensure timely demarcation and enforcement.
The meeting concluded with instructions for all field officers to strictly adhere to the SOP and provide regular updates on the status of eviction cases. Officials were cautioned that eviction cases are being closely monitored by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and High Court, and negligence in compliance will not be tolerated. The directives aim to ensure that encroachment matters are resolved fairly and lawfully, restoring public confidence in the system.
