SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has directed all Deputy Commissioners to expedite the verification and settlement of claims under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, and certify completion of the process, while reiterating that no eligible forest dweller can be evicted until the statutory recognition procedure is concluded. The department reminded officials that under Section 6 of the Forest Rights Act, the Gram Sabha is the primary authority for receiving, verifying and recommending individual and community forest rights claims before forwarding them to the SDLC. The circular also reiterates the applicability of the Forest Rights Act in municipal and urban areas, citing a 2015 Office Memorandum issued by the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Drawing attention to Section 4(5) of the Forest Rights Act, the Tribal Affairs Department emphasised that “no member of a forest dwelling Scheduled Tribe or other traditional forest dweller shall be evicted or removed from forest land under his occupation till the recognition and verification procedure is complete.” The circular has been circulated to the Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, the Housing and Urban Development Department, the Forest Department, and the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations for compliance.