New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an important petition filed by the Jharkhand government today (Thursday, November 13). The petition seeks permission to reduce the size of the state's Saranda Sanctuary by 60 square kilometers to build educational institutions for the tribal community and protect their forest rights.

The Jharkhand government decided to alter the sanctuary's boundary primarily to meet the basic needs of the tribal communities and protect the rights they are entitled to under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).

The Supreme Court will hear this proposal today and is likely to make a decision balancing the rights of the tribal people with the imperatives of environmental conservation.