Gauhati High Court Directs Assam Government to Respond to Eviction Rehabilitation Petition
The Gauhati High Court has issued a directive to the Assam government, requiring it to formally respond to a significant petition that seeks comprehensive rehabilitation measures for numerous families who were forcibly evicted from non-cadastral villages located within the Nagaon district last year. The court has emphasized the urgent need for special consideration to be given to particularly vulnerable segments of the affected population, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and individuals with disabilities.
Petition Details and Eviction Background
The legal petition was filed by Bhupen Sarma, a dedicated social worker based in Nagaon. It specifically calls for the implementation of structured rehabilitation plans for those displaced from the non-cadastral, or unsurveyed, villages of Longjap, Ranipukhuri, and Lutumari. These settlements are situated within the Lutumari reserve forest area, which falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the Kampur Revenue Circle.
The petitioner presented a compelling argument, stating that the evicted families had resided in these areas for an extended period, approximately 35 to 45 years. Their initial settlement was primarily due to displacement caused by severe river erosion or chronic landlessness. Over the decades, these communities had been integrated into various government welfare systems.
- They possessed valid ration cards issued under the National Food Security Act of 2013.
- They had consistent access to essential services provided by local Anganwadi Centres.
- Their children attended nearby government schools.
- They benefited from water supply initiatives under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Legal Proceedings and Government Action
Representing the petitioner in court, advocate D Ghosh presented a detailed account of the eviction process. He submitted that the operation was jointly conducted by the state's forest and revenue departments. During this drive, homes were systematically demolished, and extensive horticulture plantations were destroyed. Critically, no prior rehabilitation scheme was established or offered to the displaced families, leaving them in a state of extreme vulnerability and uncertainty.
Ghosh reiterated the court's concern, highlighting the precarious situation faced by the elderly, children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and persons with disabilities among the evictees. Following these submissions, the bench directed Additional Advocate General PN Goswami, representing the Assam government, to file a comprehensive response to the petition. The court has scheduled the next hearing for this matter on April 27.
Scale and Context of the Eviction Drive
The eviction drive that precipitated this legal challenge was a large-scale operation executed by the Nagaon district administration in November of the previous year. Its objective was to clear approximately 5,962 bighas of land within the Lutumari reserve forest. Authorities alleged that this forest land had been illegally occupied by an estimated 8,000 individuals.
The administrative action was preceded by a technological assessment, where the forest department utilized drone surveys to meticulously map and evaluate the extent of encroachment in the contested area. This survey data reportedly formed the basis for the subsequent eviction proceedings, which have now led to a significant legal and humanitarian appeal for justice and rehabilitation for the displaced families.
