Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government will present its stand in the Godavarman case pending before the Supreme Court, seeking the implementation of the 1952 notification under the Forest Act, 1927.
This was decided in a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting chaired by Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, where legal issues concerning small and marginal farmers and landless families were discussed.
Negi stated that the state Assembly had already passed a unanimous resolution advocating amendments to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980.
The resolution was sent to the Centre to ensure relief for small and marginal farmers affected by restrictive forest laws.
The Himachal Pradesh Seb Utpadak Sangh and Himbumail have been consistently raising this issue, demanding that the government take a firm stand to protect farmers' rights.
They argue that forest regulations have severely impacted agriculture in the state, leaving many farmers unable to cultivate their land.
The meeting was attended by Education Minister Rohit Thakur, State Planning Commission Chairman Nand Lal, Additional Chief Secretary Onkar Chand Sharma, Principal Secretary (Law) Sharad Kumar Lagwal, Head of Forest Forces Sameer Rastogi, and Chief Conservator of Forest Anil Sharma.
Farmers now await the Supreme Court’s response and the Centre’s position on the state’s demand for a legal resolution.