Sampat Dagdu Aher v. the State of Maharashtra through Tribal Development Department and Others
Forest Rights Act, 2006 – Sections 2(c) and 2(o) – batch of ten writ petitions (lead: WP 7943/2023)
Case brief
What is this about?
Bombay High Court, Aurangabad Bench (neutral citation 2025:BHC-AUG:36935), Siddheshwar S. Thombre, J., 18.12.2025 — Suresh Rangnath Aher v. State of Maharashtra (Tribal Development Department) & others; batch of ten writ petitions (WP Nos. 7943, 7964, 7946, 7957, 7944, 7949, 7956, 7947, 7963, 7945 of 2023). Keywords: Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006; Section 2(c) Scheduled Tribes; Section 2(o) other traditional forest dwellers; occupation of forest-area premises; absence of record of occupation prior to 13.12.2005; Sub Divisional Officer; Additional Collector; Village Level Committee; remand to decide afresh; six-month timeline; petitions partly allowed; all points kept open.
What did the court decide?
Writ petitions partly allowed; orders dated 05.10.2018 (Sub Divisional Officer) and 02.02.2022 (Additional Collector) set aside; matters remitted to the Sub Divisional Officer to decide afresh, with direction to consider referral to the Village Level Committee and complete the exercise within six months; all points kept open.