Supreme Court Seeks Responses on Forest Rights in Chhattisgarh's PEKB Coal Block Case
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The Supreme Court has issued notices seeking formal responses from the central government, the Chhattisgarh state government, Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL), and the District Level Forest Rights Committee (DLC) of Surguja. The legal proceedings stem from a petition focusing on the enforcement of community forest rights for residents living near the Parsa East and Kete Basin (PEKB) coal block.
Background of the Legal Challenge and High Court Appeal
Community Forest Rights in Chhattisgarh grant local tribal populations and traditional forest dwellers the legal authority to protect, manage, and sustainably utilize their ancestral forestlands. The current Supreme Court petition was filed by the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (HABSS) alongside six other petitioners.
The petitioners challenged a previous decision delivered on April 21 by the Chhattisgarh High Court, which had dismissed an appeal filed by the committee and local residents regarding forest rights implementation in the area.
Supreme Court Bench Directives and Mining Status
A bench presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant, alongside Justices Jaymalya Bagchi and V. Mohan, reviewed the matter and issued notices on Monday.
During the hearing, the bench explicitly clarified that the issuance of notices on this petition will have no immediate impact on ongoing mining operations conducted by RRVUNL within its captive PEKB coal block. Judicial review and investigation into the forest rights aspects will proceed while current mining activities continue unhindered.
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