New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday constituted a special committee headed by former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai to supervise the eviction and rehabilitation process in the protected areas of the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape in Tamil Nadu.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for delays in receiving, identifying and adjudicating claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
The court also directed the state government to complete the formation of the remaining Gram Sabhas within 30 days.
The special committee will be assisted by an officer of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force of Tamil Nadu. The committee chairperson may identify a suitable CEC officer to assist it, the court said.
"The Committee shall scrutinise the orders passed by the competent authorities under the FRA, 2006, in respect of the claims received and shall submit its report to this Court in a sealed cover," the bench said.
The committee will also supervise the expeditious disposal of the claims and issue necessary directions to the authorities concerned, it added.
The Supreme Court directed the committee to begin functioning immediately.
The Tamil Nadu government has been asked to provide all necessary logistical and administrative assistance to the committee. It must also designate an officer of the rank of Joint Secretary (Administration) as the nodal officer to coordinate with the panel and facilitate its work, the court said.
Taking serious note of encroachments in the protected areas of the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape, the Supreme Court had earlier directed the preparation and priority implementation of a time-bound eviction plan.
The court had also ordered disciplinary and legal action against 118 identified serving and retired government employees found to be encroachers in the protected areas.
It had observed that encroachments in the Agasthyamalai landscape, including the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, the Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve and the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, had persisted and expanded over several decades despite specific directions from the Madras High Court and orders passed by the Supreme Court.
The court delivered its verdict on May 29 on a petition raising several issues, including the protection of reserve forests, wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves in Tamil Nadu.
It noted that, according to the Central Empowered Committee's interim report submitted in July 2025, the Agasthyamalai ecological landscape covers 3,500.36 square km and extends across several districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.