A protest was held in front of the Theni Collectorate demanding that no steps be taken to evict residents of hill villages in the Meghamalai region. The demonstration was organised by the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Association, which urged the State government to file a review petition against a Supreme Court order.
Speakers said the verdict directs the eviction of around 5,000 families from the hills by August 28, and reportedly mentions the use of paramilitary forces if the State does not cooperate. They argued that the decision was unfair and linked it to the alleged failure of the district administration and departments concerned to implement provisions under the Forest Rights Act.
The protest also alleged that people who have lived in the area for generations were being labelled as encroachers. It criticised the court-appointed central committee, claiming it did not conduct village-level inspections and instead held meetings at a hotel.
CPI(M) state secretary Shanmugam said a petition had been submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on the issue, and cited Minister Nirmal Kumar as saying a review petition would be filed and that residents would not be removed until then. Theni DMK MP Thanga Tamilselvan said he would resign his post and join the agitation if eviction steps were initiated.
