RANCHI ASSOCIATION Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner being a Registered Association with its aims and objectives of uplifting and developing the social, economic and educational status of the Ranchi Adivasis as well as of the pther Scheduled Tribes who have migrated from the mainland and settled in these Islands, seeks the following relief(s) : -

(2.) From the pleadings as well as from the various documents that have been appended to this writ petition, the facts, as gathered are that as the Indian Jail Committee of 1919-20 advised the Government of India to abolish the penal settlement in the Andamans altogether, the Provincial Governments were asked to stop deportation of the prisoners to the Andamans. The Administration of these Islands felt the shortage of laborers for clearing the jungles. Since then the Adivasis of Chhotanagpur, namely, the Uraons, the Mundas and the Kharias were recruited by the Government. They are known as the "Ranchies" in these Islands and are also referred to as the "Tapuwalas" in their parent States of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.

(3.) Because of their close Association with forest lands in their own State of origin, these Adivasis did not feel any difficulty in working in the forests of the Islands. When the Japanese occupied these Islands in the year 1992, about 900 such Tribals namely the "Ranchies" were already working here in the Mills, Aerodrome, reconstruction work, timber and agriculture works. A few of them had taken to cultivation also.