Bhopal-  A serious matter has emerged from Indore district in Madhya Pradesh, where 29 tribal farmers have accused the district administration of illegally leasing out their ancestral agricultural land to an industry in violation of rules. The dispute involves approximately 44 acres of land at Khasra No. 278 in the Kali Billod area near Pithampur. The case has raised significant questions about administrative procedures and tribal rights.

The affected farmers claim that the land was allotted to them back in 1976 under a government scheme, but it has now been illegally declared as 'Nazool' land (land vested with the government) and handed over to an industry, pushing their families into a severe livelihood crisis.

According to the farmers, the land was originally given to them decades ago when the government recognized them as occupants of forest land and issued valid leases along with land rights certificates from the revenue department. As a result, the land was duly recorded in revenue records under their names. For generations, these families have cultivated this land to support themselves. However, recent actions have allegedly changed the land's status to 'Nazool', a move which the farmers claim is completely illegal and arbitrary.

Alleged Tampering of Records and Irregularities in Mutation

One of the most serious allegations concerns procedural irregularities and tampering of documents during the mutation process. The farmers allege that deliberate negligence occurred in transferring land rights to legal heirs. Taking advantage of this, changes were reportedly made to land records. Based on these altered records, in March 2025, the land was first transferred to the Audyogik Kendra Vikas Nigam (AKVN) and subsequently leased out to 'Shakti Pump Industries'. The farmers claim the entire process lacked transparency and violated legal norms.

Seeking justice, 16 of the affected farmers filed a complaint in the Special SC/ST Court on April 6, 2026. A hearing was held the same day. Taking the case seriously, the court issued notices to the Revenue Commissioner of Indore Division, directing him to submit a report by June 26. Furthermore, on April 22, the farmers also filed a writ petition in the High Court, seeking to quash the orders passed by the Collector.

Senior Advocate Neeraj Soni, representing the farmers, stated that this is not just a violation of revenue rules but a serious example of the infringement of tribal rights.

Alleged Violations of SC/ST Act and PESA Law

The farmers have alleged that the land transfer openly violates provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, and other legal provisions. Tribal land cannot ordinarily be transferred without the consent of the Gram Sabha and adherence to statutory processes. In this case, the farmers claim neither the Gram Sabha's opinion was sought nor the legal acquisition process followed.

According to Advocate Soni, if the allegations of document tampering and fraud are proven, serious charges like forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy could be filed against the concerned officials and others involved. The petition demands the registration of a criminal case and a fair investigation into the entire episode.

The most significant impact of this entire episode is on the 29 tribal families who have depended on this land for years.

Having lost their land, many families have been forced into manual labour for survival. The farmers state that this is not merely a dispute over land, but a struggle for their existence, dignity, and rights.