The Forest Department Saturday constituted an eight-member committee of experts to provide technical and legal support for the implementation of Forest Right Act, 2006 in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In supersession of Forest Order No 262 of 2020 dated 10 December 2020 issued vide endorsement no PCCF/Coord/Scheduled Tribes/Misc-3/9378-83 dated 10 December 2020 on the subject, sanction has been accorded to the constitution of a committee comprising of eight officials to provide technical and legal support on the implementation of the Forest Rights Act,” reads an order issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (HoFF), Forest Department, Mohit Gera.
The committee of experts has been constituted for the implementation of the Schedule Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
Headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, and CEO, CAMPA, Sarvesh Rai, this committee of experts would have seven members including CCF Central T Rabi Kumar, CCF (WPR&T), CCF S&D Shally Ranjan, CF Balaji, CR (WPR&T) Irfan Ali Shah, ACF Rushal Garg, and PLO Paramjit Singh.
As per the orders, the committee would consult experts, review existing central and state laws, various court orders and provide technical inputs.
“The committee will act as a think-tank on various aspects of the implementation of the Forest Right Act for the J&K Forest Department and also develop a training module for various stakeholders to oversee the conduct of these trainings,” Mohit Gera said in the order.
He said that the committee may co-opt other officers and expert members as per requirement for the mandate assigned to the committee.
Under the Forest Right Act, 2006, the forest dwelling scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers would be provided rights over forest land for the purpose of habitation, self-cultivation, livelihood, ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce, and entitlement to seasonal resources among others.
However, the rights conferred under this act would be heritable, but not alienable or transferrable.