You are not forced to bet.

The only time you are forced to bet with the nuts (as far as I'm aware) is when the action is checked to you on the river. (This is definitely the case in the EPT tournaments, I've never seen it happen at a cash table, or at another tournament, as checking back the nuts on the river is obviously a really bad play.) Example at EPT Barcelona in 2012

Check raising the river with the nuts is certainly allowed and is a great strategy against many different styles of opponents.

Maybe it is a rule specific to that home game? (A pretty bizarre rule at that!)

Sklansky mentions in "Theory of Poker" that this rule may be in effect in some home games. This is not a poker rule, but it's what happens when amateurs get to define the rules. That said, you should always be aware of what the rules are where you play. You're there to make money, not on a poker rule crusade. :-)

Checking OOP is always possible. You are not allowed to checkback IP.

Another famous example of checking back the nuts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUeMxTHyOhM

Thank you all for the information provided. It was not a home game it was in a weekly tournament at the local G Casino.all points noted and put in to memory bank haha. good luck all at the tables.