Kisan Sabha welcomed the decision of the Honorable Supreme Court

Himachal Pradesh Kisan Sabha, Apple Growers Association, small and marginal farmers have welcomed the decision given by the Honorable Supreme Court regarding eviction from forest land. State President of Kisan Sabha, Dr. Kuldeep Tanwar said that on January 19, Kisan Sabha along with various organizations will march on foot from Panchayat Bhawan Shimla to the Secretariat and demand from the state government to formulate a policy as per the instructions of the Honorable Supreme Court. He said that Kisan Sabha will also demand that till the policy is formulated, no poor and marginal farmers should be evicted and displaced.
Dr. Tanwar expressed surprise that no government has ever seriously advocated for the interests of small and marginal farmers in the honorable courts, due to which this class of farmers has always been under the threat of ruin. The government has axed countless apple orchards cultivated on forest land. He said that countless poor and marginal farmers have built houses and cow sheds on forest land for their living. Most importantly, if the government uses JCB on the houses and cow sheds of these poor people, then this poor class will be left with no place to go and will be forced onto the streets.
Dr. Tanwar stated that in a democracy, every person has the fundamental right to life, and providing shelter to every person is the constitutional responsibility of every government. He explained that in 1952, the then Chief Commissioner issued a notification declaring vacant land in the state as forest land. In 1980, when the Forest Conservation Act was enacted, people living on forest land were considered encroachers. He added that in 2002, former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal of the then BJP government introduced Act 163A regarding land revenue amendments. This Act provided for the regularization of up to 20 bighas of land encroached by small and marginal farmers. However, this Act was challenged in the Honorable High Court, which struck it down on August 4th, and orders were given to cut down apple trees and other trees growing on the encroached land.
Dr. Tanwar stated that the Kisan Sabha’s concern is solely with the poor, Dalits, and widows, including those families whose livelihoods depend on 4-5 bighas of land. For this group, the Kisan Sabha filed a petition in the Supreme Court, in which small and marginal farmers have received justice. He stated that the state government should immediately formulate a policy to protect the interests of this group and raise this serious issue with the central government to prevent the eviction of the poor and needy.