23rd June: A hundred members of the National Alliance for Justice, Accountability and Rights (NAJAR)—a pan-Indian collective of lawyers, law students, and legal professionals—have written to the President of India, Governor and Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, registering their unequivocal opposition to the Chhattisgarh Government’s declaration of Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM) as an “unlawful organisation” under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005(CSPSA), via Notification No. F-4-101/Home-c/2024 dated October 30, 2024.
In this public statement, the signatories have that, ‘this proscription constitutes a direct and dangerous attack on the right to freedom of association and reflects the State’s increasing tendency to criminalise peaceful democratic organizing by Adivasi communities in Scheduled Areas. As lawyers and law professionals committed to constitutional rights, they appeal to authorities to immediately intervene and revoke the arbitrary and unjust ban on Moolvasi Bachao Manch, release all its imprisoned members, and repeal the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005.’
The signatories have also expressed deep alarm over what they have termed as ‘vindictive state actions’ in Bastar. The criminalisation of an independent Adivasi platform like Moolvasi Bachao Manch signals a deepening hostility of the state towards even peaceful and lawful assertion of constitutional and statutory rights and grassroots dissent. The attempt to target every visible member of MBM’s decentralised leadership appears aimed at dissuading an entire generation of young Adivasis from exercising their democratic and constitutional rights.
The President and Governor are required as per the Constitution to ensure peace and good government in all the scheduled areas. NAJAR members urge the President of India, Governor of Chhattisgarh and Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh to:
Revoke the ban: Immediately withdraw Notification No. F-4-101/Home-c/2024 dated 30th October, 2024, declaring Moolvasi Bachao Manch (MBM) as unlawful. The ban lacks a factual basis, violates constitutional and procedural safeguards, and criminalizes peaceful political organizing.
Release all MBM members: Ensure the unconditional release of all MBM members detained under false or politically motivated charges—including those arrested under UAPA, CSPSA, IPC, Arms Act, and Explosives Act provisions. Charges based solely on association or protest activity must be withdrawn.
Repeal the CSPSA: Initiate legislative steps to repeal the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005, which permits arbitrary proscription and violates the principles of legality and proportionality.
End the criminalisation of Adivasi protests: Stop suppression of Adivasi mobilizations in assertion of their constitutional rights. Recognise peaceful protest as protected democratic activity, not a threat.
Halt further arrests and harassment: Immediately stop the arrest, surveillance, and harassment of individuals previously associated with Moolvasi Bachao Manch. Ensure that no person is criminalized solely for exercising constitutionally protected rights.
NAJAR has further urged the authorities to act without delay to restore the rule of law, uphold constitutional values, and respect the rights of Adivasi communities in Bastar and across scheduled areas of India.
The letter may be read here:
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