Hyderabad: In a major breather for tribal farmers from Khammam district, the Telangana High Court has ordered status quo on agricultural lands caught in a forest rights dispute, effectively stalling alleged eviction attempts by forest and police officials.
The bench, led by Justice Pulla Karthik, issued the order after hearing writ petitions filed by Islavath Jamuna and Islavath Bala—farmers from Manikyaram village in Singareni mandal. The petitioners alleged that despite possessing legal rights over their lands under the Forest Rights Recognition Act, 2006 (RoFR), local officials were threatening them and attempting to forcibly remove them from their farms.
The court’s written order was released on Tuesday, following arguments made in the first week of May. The judge directed that the current status of the lands—9.30 acres and 6.71 acres respectively—be maintained without disturbance.
Advocate Nallapu Maneedeep, representing the petitioners, argued that the farmers’ titles were granted through official RoFR documents and any interference by forest or police officials amounted to a violation of constitutional rights.
The court accepted that the petitioners had a prima facie claim and ordered the forest and home department officials, named as respondents, to explain by June 24 why the petitions should not be admitted.
It also clarified that since government lawyers and respondent departments had already received notices, there was no need for fresh issuance. The Principal Secretaries of both Forest and Home Departments have been asked to submit detailed responses justifying the attempted actions.