**Executive Summary**
This report addresses the reasons behind tribal protests in Nashik, Maharashtra, focusing on disputes over land recognition and the processing of claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006. As of January 2026, the state faces a backlog of 14,726 pending Individual Forest Rights cases, prompting directives for expedited disposal. Key requirements include mandatory Gram Sabha consent for land acquisition and strict adherence to statutory processing timelines.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Causes of Unrest**
* **Claim Disputes:** Protests stem from issues regarding evidence and approval of claims under Sections 4(1), 4(3), and 6 of the FRA.
* **Extent of Land:** There are ongoing disputes regarding the specific area of land recognized under Section 4(6) of the Act.
**Processing Status and Timelines**
* **Case Backlog:** As of late January 2026, there are 6,158 pending claims and 8,568 pending appeals.
* **Processing Duration:** Recommended claims typically take 60 days to process, while rejected claims entering the appellate stage can exceed six months.
* **Rejection Rates:** Approximately 30% of total claims are currently rejected at the district level.
**Land Management and Displacement**
* **Jurisdiction:** Land management remains under the exclusive legislative and administrative jurisdiction of the State Government.
* **Displacement Claims:** The Maharashtra government reports that no tribal communities have been forcibly displaced without due process in districts including Nashik, Satara, and Jalgaon.
* **Mandatory Consent:** Per a Government Resolution dated 28.11.2025, Gram Sabha consent is compulsory prior to land acquisition or project approvals.
**Legal and Administrative Oversight**
* **Penalties:** Section 7 of the FRA stipulates that authorities contravening the Act may be fined up to 1,000 rupees.
* **Legal Recourse:** Section 8 requires a 60-day notice to the State Level Monitoring Committee before a court can take cognizance of an offence.
* **Administrative Directive:** The Chief Secretary has directed District Collectors to dispose of all pending individual and community claims and appeals as soon as possible.
**Impact Analysis**
**Tribal Communities**
**Impact**
They face significant delays in land rights recognition due to high rejection rates (30%) and lengthy appellate processes. However, they gain protection through the requirement of mandatory Gram Sabha consent for any land acquisition or project approvals.
**Action Required**
Communities must follow prescribed appellate procedures if claims are rejected and ensure the Gram Sabha is active in reviewing project proposals and land acquisition requests.
**District Collectors**
**Impact**
They are under direct pressure to clear a substantial backlog of 14,726 pending cases and appeals. They are also subject to potential fines under Section 7 of the FRA for contravention of the Act.
**Action Required**
Must expedite the disposal of pending individual and community claims and appeals as directed by the State-level Monitoring Committee and the Chief Secretary.
**State Government of Maharashtra / State Level Monitoring Committee**
**Impact**
The state holds primary responsibility for FRA implementation and must monitor progress at the TRTI Commissionerate level. It must ensure that no displacement occurs without due process.
**Action Required**
Must oversee the implementation of the 28.11.2025 resolution regarding compensation and ensure that no project approvals are granted without mandatory Gram Sabha consent.
Key Entities Referenced
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA): The primary legislation governing the recognition of forest rights and the legal basis for the tribal claims and protests mentioned.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The central ministry responsible for issuing directions and guidelines to ensure the proper implementation of the Forest Rights Act.
State Level Monitoring Committee: The high-level body in Maharashtra responsible for monitoring FRA implementation and overseeing the disposal of pending claims and appeals.
Gram Sabha: The local village assembly whose consent is mandatory for land acquisition and project approvals under the provisions of the FRA.
Maharashtra (Nashik, Sangli, and other districts): The central geographic focus where tribal protests regarding forest rights, land acquisition, and pending claims are occurring.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Tribal protests in Maharashtra
Posted On: 01 APR 2026 1:38PM by PIB Delhi
Replying to an unstarred question in Rajya Sabha today the Union Minister of State Shri. Durgadas Uikey
said that government of Maharashtra has informed that the reasons for widespread Maharashtra tribal
protests in Nashik are as follow:
(i) Issues relating to evidence and approval of claims under Section 4(1), 4(3) and Section 6
of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights)
Act, 2006 (in short, FRA).
(ii) Dispute regarding extent of land recognized under Section 4(6) of FRA.
As per the information received from State Government of Maharashtra, as of the end of January 2026,
Maharashtra has a total of 14,726 pending Individual Forest Rights (IFR) cases, comprising 6,158 claims
and 8,568 appeals. As per the provisions of the Act, the prescribed processing timeline for each claim is
approximately 60 days in cases where the claim is recommended. However, in instances where a claim is
rejected at any stage, the overall processing time may extend beyond six months due to the appellate
procedures involved. As of the end of January 2026, the rejection rate at the district level stands at
approximately 30% of the total claims received at that level.
No, land and its management fall under the exclusive legislative and administrative jurisdiction of States
as provided under the Constitution of India (Seventh Schedule- List II (State List)- Entry No. (18). Land
acquisition and associated rehabilitation for various projects i.e. for construction of highways, dams and
for mining is undertaken by the Central and State Governments under various Central and State Acts. State
Government of Maharashtra has informed that no tribal communities have been forcibly displaced or
rehabilitated without due process in Sangli, Bhandara, Jalgaon, Nashik, Wardha, Dhule, Chhatrapati
Sambhajinagar, Gondia, Satara, and Chandrapur districts.
State Government of Maharashtra has informed that as per Government Resolution dated 28.11.2025,
instructions were issued for compensation for CFR land by Tribal Development Department, Maharashtra.
As per resolution, Gram Sabhas' consent is mandatory before land acquisition and project approvals as per
the FRA.
State Government of Maharashtra has informed that no such matter has been found in Sangli, Bhandara,
Jalgaon, Nashik, Wardha, Dhule, C. Sambhajinagar, Godia, Satara, Chandrapur districts.
Section 7 of FRA stipulates that, “Where any authority or Committee or officer or member of such
authority or Committee contravenes any provision of this Act or any rule made thereunder concerning
recognition of forest rights, it, or they, shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall
be liable to be proceeded against and punished with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any member of the authority or
Committee or head of the department or any person referred to in this section liable to any punishment if
he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence
to prevent the commission of such offence”. Also, Section 8 of FRA stipulates that, “No court shall takecognizance of any offence under section 7 unless any forest dwelling Scheduled Tribe in case of a dispute
relating to a resolution of a Gram Sabha or the Gram Sabha through a resolution against any higher
authority gives a notice of not less than sixty days to the State Level Monitoring Committee and the State
Level Monitoring Committee has not proceeded against such authority”.
As per FRA and Rules made thereunder, State Governments/UT Administrations are responsible for
implementation of various provisions of the Act while Ministry of Tribal Affairs has been issuing
directions and guidelines from time to time on various aspects to ensure proper implementation of the Act.
State Government of Maharashtra has informed that a meeting of the State-level Monitoring Committee
was held on 10th October 2025 wherein Chief Secretary directed all District Collectors to dispose of
pending individual and community claims, as well as appeals under the Forest Rights Act, as soon as
possible. Additionally, pending matters are being monitored at the TRTI Commissionerate level.
RN/
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