Shimla/Jubbal: Farmers under the banner of the Himachal Apple Growers Association strongly opposed an eviction drive launched in Mandal panchayat—Jakhor village, Ramnagari Chak—of Jubbal sub-division in Shimla district, calling it a clear violation of a December 16, 2025 order of the Supreme Court of India.
The protest saw participation from local residents and office-bearers of the association’s Shimla, Jubbal and Rohru units, including Raman Tharta, Sanjay Kumar, Jai Singh and Naresh Kumar. Following sustained resistance on the ground, officials from the revenue and forest departments were compelled to suspend the eviction.
The association alleged that instead of framing a policy to grant land to cultivators as directed by the apex court, the government—through the revenue and forest departments—had initiated eviction proceedings without completing mandatory legal procedures.
Affected families claimed they received eviction notices only via WhatsApp on February 18 and that the eviction was attempted within three days, on February 21.
Raising serious objections, the association said the notices failed to specify the law or section under which the action was being taken. When locals, affected families and association leaders sought clarification from officials present at the site, no satisfactory response was given.
The association further argued that the action ran contrary to the spirit of the Supreme Court’s directions, which had set aside earlier High Court orders and recently instructed the state government to frame a clear policy. It also alleged that the effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 was being bypassed.
“If the government has not yet framed a clear policy in line with the Supreme Court’s directions, such hasty administrative evictions cannot be considered just,” the association said.
After being shown copies of the Supreme Court order and told that the eviction was illegal and amounted to contempt of court, officials from the forest and revenue departments withdrew from the site along with police personnel without carrying out the action.
The Himachal Apple Growers Association has appealed to the public to participate in the Jubbal unit’s conference scheduled for February 24, 2025, at Hatkoti in Jubbal, urging farmers to unite democratically to protect their rights and press for a fair policy solution.
