New Delhi, March 28 -- As millions of forest-dwelling tribals in India fear eviction, 109 civil society organisations across the country have released a press statement demanding fair review and scrutiny of their rejected claims to forest rights.

They voiced their concern ahead of the Supreme Court hearing of the Wildlife First and Ors vs Union of India and Ors scheduled for April 2, 2025. During the last hearing on the matter on February 13, 2019, the apex court had ordered eviction of 1.7 million tribal families by rejecting their individual rights. The order was put on hold the same month after nationwide protests.

The court had also directed the state governments to review the rejection of claims.

The organisations, including Cam...