The Supreme Court on Thursday will hear the Centre’s plea seeking withholding of its 13th February order asking 21 states to evict nearly 11.8 lakh forest dwellers whose claims over the land have been rejected by the authorities.

A bench comprising Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Naveen Sinha took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Wednesday and agreed to hear the plea.

In its plea, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs said that as the forest dwellers were extremely poor and illiterate, it was difficult for them to substantiate their claims before the competent authorities.

It said, the eviction of tribals, without such information would cause serious prejudice to such tribals who have been residing in forests for generations.

The apex court had on February 13th directed 21 states to apprise it about the action taken by them over the eviction of tribals and forest dwellers whose claims have been rejected.