The Himachal High Court issued a notice to the state government and the Central Administration of Tibetans (CTA), McLeodganj, Dharamsala, and Jigger Kagyud Studies and Mediation Centre, Riwalsar, Mandi, on the issue of alleged encroachments over forest land by Tibetan refugees. The court directed them to file its response within eight weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on May 14.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary passed this order on a petition filed by Pawan Kumar of Rewalsar wherein he alleged that Tibetan refugees had encroached upon thousands of bighas of forest land in Kullu, Mandi and Kangra districts and other parts of the state, and that state functionaries had allowed them to make the use of the forest for some other purpose without getting the prior permission from the Central Government.
