The Ajjoor Village Welfare Association (AVWA), representing 350 families in the Nilgiris district, has made a second urgent appeal to the district collector. They are demanding an immediate stop to all eviction proceedings initiated by the forest department against the residents.
Centuries-Old Heritage Under Threat
The forest department has ordered villagers to vacate land located under old survey numbers 596/1 and 596/2 in Ajjoor, a traditional Badaga habitat. The department is citing various forest acts to justify the action. However, the villagers argue this move jeopardizes their long-standing cultural heritage and their very livelihoods.
In their petition, the AVWA stated that Ajjoor village has existed since 1822, and possibly even earlier according to historical maps from the Survey Department of Madras. They emphasized that they possess all necessary receipts for tax payments on these properties, proving their longstanding connection to the land.
Legal Grounds and State Acknowledgement
The villagers' case is strengthened by an RTI response dated November 19, 2025, from the Ooty tahsildar. This document confirms that the disputed survey numbers are designated as a village grazing ground and a burial ground. Crucially, the continuous payment of land taxes since 2007 is seen as the state's acknowledgement of lawful possession by the residents.
The petition also points to directives from the Madras High Court based on Writ Petition Nos. 32120 and 33737 of 2017. These rulings necessitate a review of village land use, occupation, and regularisation. The AVWA alleges that non-compliance with these court orders for over eight years amounts to contempt under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
Demands and Potential Escalation
The core demands of the Ajjoor villagers are clear:
- An immediate halt and withdrawal of all eviction proceedings.
- The issuance of pattas (land title deeds) to all eligible villagers.
The association highlights that the government itself issued around 180 pattas to villagers between 1938 and 2007, setting a precedent. They have issued a stern warning: if their request is not met, they will be compelled to approach the Madras High Court to seek appropriate writs, including mandamus, certiorari, and contempt proceedings.
This ongoing dispute underscores the tension between forest conservation laws and the rights of indigenous communities with historical claims to land, setting the stage for a significant legal and administrative battle in the Nilgiris.
