SRINAGAR: A local court in Chadoora, Budgam, has instructed the Gram Sabha of the panchayat halqas Branwar, Neegu, and Jabbad to determine the allocation of grazing rights to the local community, as required by the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
The dispute centres around Ghulam Mohammad Jahara and Ghulam Qadir Thekray, residents of Branwar, Budgam. While Jahara and his associates assert ownership of the Chaskani Nad meadow, spanning over 5000 kanals in the Doodh Ganga forest range of the Pir Panjaal forest division, Thekray alleges coercive takeover by Jahara’s family.
The directive, issued by Sub Judge Chadoora (Civil Judge Senior Division) Mir Wajahat, mandates the Gram Sabha to assess the rights and preferences of both parties within 30 days of the order’s issuance to ensure fair distribution of resources.
The court’s decision underscores the Gram Sabha’s authority under the Forest Rights Act. Chairman DDC Budgam, Nazir Ahmad Khan, lauded the order and pledged to convene a joint Gram Sabha.
Last summer, the Gujjar community in Branwar, Jabbad, and Neegu villages of Budgam district faced denial of grazing rights for their sheep in the Chaskani Naad pastureland, situated at an altitude of 4000 meters in the Doodh Ganga forest range of the Pir Panjal Forest Division. The villagers had been alleging that Chowdhary family takes money as “ransom” from grazers especially from Bakerwal families of Rajouri and Poonch by allowing them to graze their animals in the said meadows. The matter finally landed in court which has now ordered the local Gram Sabha to decide the issue within a month’s time. The defendants have also been restrained from using the pastureland until disposal of the case.
Pertinently under Forest Rights Act 2006 also Gram Sabha is the supreme authority to decide upon the claims filed by local population. The Gram Sabha is the adult population of the village and 50 percent quorum is necessary to decide on the Forest Rights Act (FRA) related cases.
