Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court is challenging the Goalpara district administration after officials bulldozed 73 homes on September 7. These families lived on private agricultural land. The state acted fast. Authorities issued eviction notices on September 5, giving residents only 24 hours to tear down their own structures.
Local officials cited the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation of 1886 and the Disaster Management Act of 2005. They warned of further legal action if the families refused. Twenty-one residents fought back in court. They argued that the administration denied them any chance to contest the eviction. The court agreed with the petitioners.
Justice pointed out that the Assam Agricultural Land Act of 2015 allows owners to build residential homes on up to one bigha of agricultural land without special permits. During the hearing, the court noted that the state failed to identify any actual threat. The judge stated, "It is absolutely unthinkable in the present day when there are galore of settled principles that such notices were issued in this manner without providing even an opportunity to the petitioners."
By September 11, the court issued a formal order. Judges found that the evidence provided by the administration failed to show any imminent danger. The court labeled the demolition as appearing "illegal and unauthorised" while suggesting the authorities misused the Disaster Management Act. Officials must now file a report explaining why they destroyed these properties.
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