Centre for transfer of cases relating to Tribal Act to the SC

The Union Government on Monday sought the transfer of all the petitions filed in various high courts challenging the Tribal Rights Act, to the Supreme Court.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, while issuing notices to the petitioners, however, refused to accept the plea by Attorney General Milon Banerjee, who sought a stay on an interim order passed by Madras High Court. On a petition filed by a retired forest officer, the Madras High Court had on February 22 issued an injunction barring grant of pattas or any felling of trees under the Act.