Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court slammed the brakes on land theft inside the Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve. A division bench led by Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury issued the directive Thursday. This move follows a public interest litigation filed by activist Rohit Choudhury, a Bokakhat local, targeting the Assam government and the Bodoland Territorial Council.
Advocate Abir Phukan told the bench that unauthorized settlers occupy massive portions of the protected zone. He specifically cited the Panbari and Betbari areas as flashpoints for land grabbing. He also flagged the Kokilabari Seed Farm, which continues to operate on park land. The Bodoland Territorial Council uses a large chunk of this property for agriculture.
The court ordered all respondent authorities to act now. Officials must make sure that the state of the park stays frozen. The bench stated the authorities "shall ensure that no further encroachment in the Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve takes place," providing a vital shield for the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Additional Advocate General P. N. Goswami and counsel N. Choudhury accepted notice for the state and the BTC. The court also sent notice to the Field Director of the reserve, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority. These parties have until October 7, 2026, to respond. The petitioner has two weeks to finalize service of these notices for the case, registered as PIL/47/2026.
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