Implementation of Forest Right Act in Jammu and Kashmir Aftermath of Abrogation of Art 370

Irfaz Ahmed Afsana, Reyaz Ahmed Ganaie

Affiliations:

Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Lucknow Campus, U.P., INDIA
Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Lucknow Campus, U.P., INDIA

This paper studies the post-2019 application of the Forest Rights Act in Jammu and Kashmir, with a specific emphasis on the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities of Jammu and Kashmir. The study analysis the administrative procedures, institutional mechanism and structural challenges in the recognition and enforcement of forest right act by drawing the source from secondary literature, policy reports and official documents. It contends that legal advancement of forest right act presents a significant development, but its practical application has been inconsistent due to bureaucratic delays, procedural ambiguities and illiteracy of tribals (Gujjar and Bakerwal) of Jammu and Kashmir. The paper highlights the persistent gap between constitutional recognition and the functional recognition of forest rights, offering insights into governance, inclusion, and social justice in post-2019 Jammu and Kashmir.

Keywords:
J&K, Forest Rights, Art 370

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