The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued notices to senior Madhya Pradesh government officials, demanding a report within three days on allegations that houses of tribal families were looted and demolished in Kosmi village of Sehore district. The Commission acted on 12 October 2026 after taking suo motu cognisance of a media report published a day earlier about the alleged incident.

How the Commission Stepped In

The NCST invoked Article 338A of the Constitution, which grants it the powers of a civil court, to examine the matter. The notice, signed by NCST Director Purnendu Kant, stated that the Commission had received information from a newspaper and decided to examine it independently. This is a suo motu action — the Commission did not wait for a formal complaint from the affected families.

Notices were dispatched to seven senior officials: the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of the Forest Department, Director General of Police, Sehore Collector, Superintendent of Police, Divisional Forest Officer, and the Managing Director of the Madhya Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation.

What the Officials Have Been Asked

The Commission has directed all notified officials to submit the facts of the case, details of action taken on complaints received, and all relevant documents within three days of receiving the notice. The NCST warned that non-compliance could compel it to summon the concerned officials for personal appearance — or through a representative — before the Commission, exercising its civil court powers under Article 338A. As of the time of reporting, the district administration and police had not yet submitted a response.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Intervention

The Commission's action follows a high-profile intervention by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who visited Kosmi village on Sunday and met the affected tribal families. Chouhan, who hails from Budhni Assembly constituency — within which Kosmi is located, roughly 35 km from Bhopal — reportedly telephoned Chief Secretary Ashok Varnwal from the spot to register his objections.

He also informed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Hemant Khandelwal about the incident. Chouhan alleged that the conduct of certain officials was 'damaging the image of the BJP and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav', noting that the affected families had voted for the party. He also raised concern over the reported destruction of maize and pigeon pea crops and the filling of a well used for drinking water and irrigation.

The Union minister assured the families that new houses would be constructed for those whose homes were demolished, and that temporary food and accommodation arrangements would be made in the interim.

Background and What Comes Next

The alleged incident in Kosmi village reportedly involved forest officials and has drawn attention because the affected residents belong to Scheduled Tribes, a constitutionally protected community. The precise sequence of events — including the role of forest department personnel — is yet to be fully established, and further details are awaited from investigating authorities.

This comes amid broader scrutiny of forest department actions against tribal communities across central India, where land-use disputes frequently pit state agencies against indigenous residents. The NCST's three-day deadline means a response from officials is due by 15 October 2026. Should officials fail to comply, the Commission may move to summon them directly, escalating the matter significantly.