India, Dec. 1 -- In the first week of October, Kalahandi, a district in Odisha dominated by tribal communities, was awash with celebration. After four months, gram sabhas of Borapadar and Pipal Chhapar villages in Koksara tehsil regained possession of a truck of kendu leaves seized from them. The truck was released on September 24 on the order of a judicial magistrate in Koksara, marking a victory not only for the villages but also for those defending the spirit of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, (FRA).

The dispute began in May, when officials from the Dharmgarh forest range seized the truck claiming the Borapadar and Pipal Chhapar gram sabhas were "illegally" transport...