The Supreme Court appointed former Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai to chair a panel investigating orders passed under the Forest Rights Act in Tamil Nadu.
The bench criticized the state for prolonged inaction in identifying forest dwellers' claims in the Agasthyamalai landscape, granting a final opportunity to complete the process.
The committee will review claims within two months after the state finishes adjudicating them through a three-tier mechanism within five months.