Politics · India · 3 hrs ago
Supreme Court says commercial crops in reserve forests are not protected by FRA
The Supreme Court said commercial crop cultivation in reserve forests is not protected by the FRA, India’s Forest Rights Act of 2006.
The law protects the rights of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who rely on forests for their livelihoods.
The court made its comments in a case about silk cotton cultivation in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
The state says silk cotton is minor forest produce, which forest dwellers may collect, use and sell under the law.
But the court said planned commercial cultivation is different from gathering naturally occurring forest produce and cannot justify occupying forest land.
It noted that 3,637.83 hectares of 5,072.64 hectares of forest land in the area are under silk cotton cultivation, and said forest had been destroyed under the guise of that cultivation.
The court directed the Central Empowered Committee to examine Tamil Nadu’s claim.
The Supreme Court said commercial crop cultivation in reserve forests is not protected under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The court made the observation in a case concerning silk cotton cultivation in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
It directed the Central Empowered Committee to examine Tamil Nadu’s view that silk cotton was a minor forest produce.
The court said the Act protects forest dwellers’ rights to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce, not to cultivate commercial crops.
The court noted that 3,637.83 hectares of forest land were under silk cotton cultivation.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, in a case concerning silk cotton cultivators and the Tamil Nadu government.
- What
- The court said commercial crop cultivation in reserve forests is not a right protected by the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
- When
- The court issued its order on November 6. The article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- The reserve forests of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The court said planned commercial cultivation is contrary to the concept of naturally occurring minor forest produce and is not recognised as a forest right under the Act.
Tamil Nadu government
Supreme Court
Silk cotton's status
Tamil Nadu government
The government said silk cotton was a minor forest produce.
Supreme Court
The court directed the Central Empowered Committee to examine that view.
Cultivation in the forest
Tamil Nadu government
The government claimed silk cotton had been cultivated historically.
Supreme Court
The court said planned or promoted commercial cultivation in forest areas was impermissible under the Forest Rights Act.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Forest Rights Act
- Enacted in 2006
- Court order
- November 6
- Forest area under silk cotton
- 3,637.83 hectares of 5,072.64 hectares
- Location
- Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu
- Court-directed review
- Central Empowered Committee to examine Tamil Nadu’s view that silk cotton was a minor forest produce
What people are saying
The concept of planned cultivation of commercial crops is totally contrary to the very concept of a naturally occurring minor forest produce.
We are of the prima facie view that planned or promoted cultivation of a commercial crop inside the forest areas is completely impermissible, as no such right is recognised under the FRA, 2006.
If commercial crops are permitted to be cultivated in the forest areas, the very nature of the forest is bound to change.