The Uttarakhand High Court, while hearing a petition filed by a community of Van Gujjars, has asked the state government to form a high level committee within 6 weeks. This committee shall look into the claims to forest rights made by the Van Gujjar community of Gendi Khatta settlement which was rejected at district level.
The petitioner, Arjun Kasana, submitted before the bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ravi Vijaykumar Malimath and Justice NS Dhanik that more than 10,000 Van Gujjars have been living in the forests of Uttarakhand for 150 years and that the government has been depriving them of their legitimate forest rights. After hearing the petitioner, the bench directed the state government to form the Committee and look into the claims.
The complete order of the court is awaited.
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