Plea filed in high court over 30 years delay in PESA Rules for tribal areas in Odisha

Key points

• The petition stated that the absence of PESA Rules has deprived tribal Gram Sabhas of powers guaranteed under the Constitution for self-governance and protection of community resources in scheduled areas.
• CUTTACK: Alleging prolonged inaction in implementing the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA Act), four tribal villagers from Odisha’s Scheduled Areas have moved the Orissa high court seeking directions to the state government to frame and enforce the long-pending rules under the legislation.The PIL was filed on Wednesday by Purushottam Hikaka and three others from Rayagada, Kandhamal and Koraput districts through advocate Anup Kumar Mohapatra.
• The petitioners, all dependent on agriculture and forest produce for livelihood, contended that despite the enactment of the PESA Act nearly 30 years ago, Odisha has failed to operationalize the law by notifying the required rules.The petition stated that the absence of PESA Rules has deprived tribal Gram Sabhas of...