NHRC Takes Action on Forest Rights Violations in Rajasthan

NHRC's Response to Allegations in Rajasthan

New Delhi, April 28, 2026. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed serious concern regarding the alleged violations of forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the Dholpur district of Rajasthan.

The commission has adopted a stringent stance towards the negligence of the district administration, directing the District Magistrate of Dholpur to conduct an immediate investigation and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

Responding to a complaint from Rameshwar Dayal, a resident of village Khinnot in the Sarmathura tehsil, the NHRC found that the district administration has failed to effectively implement the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006. The tribal community, which has depended on forest land for generations, is being deprived of their legal rights.

Rameshwar Dayal alleged that the district administration and the district council have neither organized village meetings, panchayat gatherings, nor special camps to raise awareness about the Forest Rights Act, nor have they made the claims process transparent. As a result, thousands of eligible tribal families have been denied their rights for decades.

The Commission's Stance The NHRC has made it clear that any form of negligence or delay in this matter will not be tolerated, and accountability will be established for the concerned officials. The commission has also instructed that all correspondence should be accepted solely through the HRCNet portal.

Rameshwar Dayal, who serves as the district president of the Tribal Meena Panch Patel Mahapanchayat in Dholpur, stated, “Thousands of legitimate farmers in the district have been deprived of forest rights for decades. There is a conspiracy to deceive the tribal community. The lack of action despite repeated written suggestions and complaints proves that there is something fundamentally wrong. Nevertheless, we will continue to fight this battle alone.”

The NHRC reiterated that protecting the rights of tribal communities is a constitutional responsibility of the state administration, and any neglect in this regard is unacceptable.