The HC on Tuesday admitted a PIL challenging the validity of a 2006 central enactment providing for recognition of rights over forest lands in favour of Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers.

The petition filed by Karnataka Retired Forest Officers Association sought to declare the ST and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 as unconstitutional, or alternatively to hold it not applicable to Karnataka. The Act aimed at recognising rights of certain classes of persons over Reserved Forests, Protected Forests and Protected Areas.

The Division Bench headed by CJ Cyriac Joseph ordered notices to Union Ministries of Tribal Affairs, and Environment and Forests, Director General of Forests, State department of Forest, Environment and Ecology, and PCCF.