Court allows forest pattas in Andhra
Recognition of title subject to final orders
THE High Court of Andhra Pradesh on May 1 gave permission to the state government to issue pattas (title deeds) against forestland to 114,000 tribals and forest dwellers who depend on forests for livelihood. They had filed claims under the Forest Rights Act over the past two years but the state was not issuing pattas because a petition in the high court, opposing such title deeds, is yet to be decided. The court clarified the pattas will be subject to its final orders.