'End tribal evictions': Activists seek revocation of externment order against Adivasi leader, decry political reprisal

A collective of over 200 concerned citizens, including human rights activists, lawyers, researchers, academics, and civil society organizations from across India and abroad, have petitioned the Madhya Pradesh government to immediately revoke an externment order issued against Adivasi activist Ratan Alawe. The petition, addressed to the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Revenue Commissioner (Indore Division), and the Burhanpur District Collector, alleges that the order is politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of administrative harassment targeting Adivasi communities and rights defenders.

The externment order, dated June 12, 2025, was issued just days after Alawe led a major public demonstration in Burhanpur, mobilizing over 12,000 Adivasi citizens to protest what they described as the illegal mass rejection of forest rights claims. The protest was in response to the dismissal of more than 8,000 claims under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006—rejections allegedly carried out without due process or adherence to legal mandates. At the rally, the Additional Collector had publicly committed to reviewing the claims and halting harassment by forest officials. Instead, the administration has moved to expel Alawe from the district.

The petition asserts that Alawe, a prominent member of the Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan (JADS), has long been at the forefront of exposing irregularities and violations in forest governance across the region. Among his documented interventions are investigations into illegal deforestation and timber smuggling operations in Ghagharla (2020), Kumtha Beat (2021), and Dheriya (2022). His activism has drawn attention to the large-scale loss of forest land—estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 acres—in Burhanpur, allegedly facilitated by collusion between forest and administrative officials.

Despite these public interest efforts, the externment order cites six cases to justify Alawe’s expulsion—three old forest-related complaints in which no legal proceedings were initiated, and three police cases. Of the latter, one has resulted in acquittal, another remains unprosecuted and linked to a protest, while the third was filed after Alawe accused forest officials of assault and abduction.

The petitioners argue that these grounds are baseless and reflect retaliatory action by the state. They draw attention to a precedent set by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in a similar case involving fellow JADS activist Antaram Awase, where a previous externment order was quashed and the Burhanpur Collector fined ₹50,000 for abuse of power. The court had labeled the action “politically motivated.”

Demands raised in the petition include:

- Immediate revocation of the externment order against Ratan Alawe

- Cancellation of the mass rejection of forest rights claims in Burhanpur

- A re-evaluation of all claims under the supervision of Gram Sabhas, as mandated by the FRA

- Assurance of non-interference by the forest department during the cultivation season

- Protection for all forest rights claimants from threats, obstruction, or eviction

Leaders of JADS, including Antaram Awase and Asha Bai Solanki, have condemned what they call an alarming escalation in attempts to suppress grassroots environmental and land rights advocacy. They reiterated their commitment to peaceful democratic action and called upon the state government to uphold constitutional values and legal obligations under the Forest Rights Act.

The petition remains open for endorsement from members of the public and civil society.

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