C/SCA/15306/2024 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 15306 of 2024 FOR APPROVAL AND SIGNATURE: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK Sd/- ========================================================== Approved for Reporting Yes No No ========================================================== BHIL CHIMANBHAI MANIYABHAI & ORS. Versus STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS. ========================================================== Appearance: MR MANOJ SHRIMALI(2331) for the Petitioner(s) No. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 MS DIXA PANDYA AGP for the Respondent(s) No. 1,2,3,4,5 ========================================================== CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK Date : 20/03/2026 JUDGMENT 1. Rule returnable forthwith. Learned AGP waives service of notice of rule on behalf of respondents. 2. Heard Mr.Manoj Shrimali, learned advocate for the petitioners and Ms. Dixa Pandya, learned AGP for the respondents. 3. Essentially the grievance of the present petitioners was that for (ling their claims with regard to recognizing of forest rights, the petitioners were not given the necessary forms for (ling their claims on the ground that the C/SCA/15306/2024 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026 stipulated time that had gone by. 4. In light of the communication dated 18.07.2022 addressed by the Ministry of Tribal A0airs, Government of India to the Principal Secretary, Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat, which indicates that as per Forest Rights Act, 2006, the (ling of the claims and vesting of forest rights is an ongoing process and there is no deadline/time limit for (ling of such claims. 5. In light of this, since the forms have been issued so as to enable the petitioners to lodge their claims, present petition which was essentially (led as such forms for (ling the claims was not being handed out to the petitioners, for the present, the grievance is redressed. 6. The representation dated 21.12.2023 made by the petitioners to respondent Nos. 4 and 5 shall be decided by respondent Nos. 4 and 5 within period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of copy of present petition, in accordance with law. C/SCA/15306/2024 JUDGMENT DATED: 20/03/2026 7. The petition is disposed of. Rule is made absolute to the aforesaid extent. It is needless to say that the policy is/will be implemented for all Tribal Districts. Direct service is permitted. Sd/- (HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK,J) SURESH SOLANKI Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge. Digitally signed by: SURESHKUMAR MOTIBHAI SOLANKI(HC00208), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 20/03/2026 17:45:10