Centre seeks temporary stay on eviction of 1.89 mn forest-dwelling families

Asks time for states to file detailed affidavits on implementation of Forest Rights Act; case will be heard on Thursday

The Union government on Wednesday filed a plea before the Supreme Court (SC) to modify its February 13 order and permit states to temporarily withhold forcible eviction of around 1.89 million tribal and other forest-dwelling families. The case will be heard on Thursday.

The Centre pleaded that the three-judge Bench give states a chance to file detailed affidavits on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The plea comes against a SC order to evict all tribals and forest-dwellers whose claims to traditional forestlands had been rejected under the FRA.

After the order, Opposition parties, including the Communist Party