NGO to file caveat over U.P. move on nomads

  • 26/03/1999

  • Hindu (New Delhi)

The Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), petitioner in the Van Gujjars humans rights case before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has decided to file a caveat in the Supreme Court in response to the Uttar Pradesh Government's decision to challenge the NHRC decision on nomads. According to the Uttar Pradesh Minister for Forests, Mr. Raghuvar Dayal Verma, Van Gujjars were posing a serious problem to the forest department activities through excessive lopping and grazing. "We want them to give up the nomadic life and settle down at the resettlement colony built at a cost of Rs. 5 crores at Pathri so that they can join the national mainstream," the Minister said, adding that the State Government would soon move the Supreme Court against the NHRC order.