The Supreme Court of India’s clear and specific guidelines are a positive step towards ensuring the conservation of 25,000 orans covering an area of about 600,000 hectares
First published on 01/29/2025, and last updated on 02/11/2025
By ICCA Consortium
In a recent judgment, the Supreme Court of India said orans—community-conserved sacred groves must be recognized and protected as forests under the related laws.
Communities in Rajasthan have been conserving these orans for centuries, and their lives are intricately linked to these spaces.
The Supreme Court delivered the judgment in response to a petition by Aman Singh, founder of the Krishi Avam Paristhitiki Vikas Sansthan (KRAPAVIS), an Alwar-based organization dedicated to protecting orans. KRAPAVIS is an ICCA Consortium Member.
In the news: Sacred groves deserve recognition as forests, says Supreme Court
Learn more: Orans
Communities in Rajasthan have been conserving these Orans for centuries, and their lives are intricately linked to these spaces.
A positive precedent for the movement of community-driven conservation efforts worldwide: Aman Singh
On December 18th, 2024, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment about my writ petition, which addresses the rights of local communities and the conservation of orans, Dev-vans, and Rundhs. The Supreme Court of India directed the related government agencies to do detailed on-ground and satellite mapping of all orans, dev-vans, and rundhs; protect them as forests, and recognize the local communities as custodians of these sacred areas.
This is an excellent verdict by the court. We’ve struggled for over three decades to get specific policies or rules to protect orans. This judgment will help save these sacred lands.
This prolonged battle of KRAPAVIS to secure local communities’ rights and establish community reserves has resulted in the formulation of specific guidelines by the Supreme Court ensuring the conservation of 25000 orans covering an area of about 600,000 hectares. The Supreme Court has directed urgent recognition of the sacred groves of Rajasthan, which hold immense ecological value and are deeply revered in local cultures. Moreover, it has been directed that these sacred groves be granted protection through Section 36-C of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, which allows for the declaration of community reserves. The Supreme Court has suggested that oran communities be recognized under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

The Supreme Court has provided heightened importance to the local communities that have shown a strong cultural and ecological commitment to conservation. Therefore, it is suggested that the Government of Rajasthan identify these traditional communities and formally recognize their role as custodians of Oran conservation. They should also be empowered by being granted the authority to regulate access, prevent harmful activities, and promote sustainable conservation for future generations.
The court directed that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India should strive to create policies and programs that protect the rights of these communities and involve them in forest conservation.
The Supreme Court further directed MoEFCC to create a comprehensive policy for the governance and management of sacred groves nationwide. The MoEFCC must also develop a plan for a nationwide survey of sacred groves by whatever name they are identified in each State. This survey should identify their area, location, and extent and mark their boundaries.

Additionally, the Supreme Court has directed MoEFCC to formulate a national policy for the governance and management of orans, dev-vans, and rundhs (i.e., Community Conserved Areas–CCAs / Commons) and to conduct a nationwide survey to identify and mark the boundaries. This will help ensure their protection across the country.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India and the Government of Rajasthan are instructed to constitute a five-member Committee to ensure the execution of the Judgment.
This judgment is a significant victory for India and a positive precedent for the broader movement of community-driven conservation efforts worldwide. The inclusion of local communities as stewards of their environment has always been at the heart of this struggle, and this ruling is a significant step toward securing their rightful place in the conservation landscape.