The Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh today favoured the idea of fast-track courts to settle land right issues in naxal affected areas in the country. Addressing the state Revenue Ministers Conference on modernization of land records in New Delhi, Mr. Ramesh said that if the issue of land rights of tribals would have been handled effectively, the naxal menace could have been tackled in an effective fashion. He called for the replication of the Andhra Pradesh model, where para-legal army helps the tribals to fight court cases.

The minister said that in many instances, the land belonging to the poor tribals were being grabbed forcibly by the powerful vested interests and therefore there is need for the proper survey and modernization of the land records. He said that his ministry will soon take up the issue with the Law Ministry.