Guwahati HC directs Assam govt to fence reserved forests

Gauhati High court ordered Assam government to fence reserved forests and warned against fresh intrusions.

The division bench, headed by Chief Justice Ashwini Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhary on Monday gave encroachers 15 days to reply to notices and another 15 days to vacate.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the verdict as “historic seal” on the government’s efforts. “The court has gone a step further than the government. We carried out evictions but did not hold officers accountable. The order ensures that action will also be taken against officials under whose watch encroachments took place.”


Sarma said the Chief Justice made it clear that eviction in forest land must be backed by strong regulations and those officers responsible during the period of encroachment must face action. “Large-scale encroachment happened between 2006 and 2011. In Goalpara, for instance, the forest official under whose watch it occurred is now an advocate."

He added. “This order has brought uniformity. From now on, in any court case, the government will be able to serve a 15-day notice before eviction,” he explained.

He said, “The Congress has been claiming that if they come to power, they will return these lands. This verdict has ended such prospects once and for all,” he remarked.

Sarma stated in X, “If some sections of people were having even a remote pipe dream that they will get their evicted lands back if Cong comes back to power- yesterday's judgement seals their fate. Nobody will be allowed to further settle in evicted lands”.

Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury suggested fencing porous border areas with barbed wire and setting up functional check posts to prevent illegal entry into reserve forests. “Such measures will be effective only if officials managing these posts discharge their duties honestly and efficiently. If illegal entry is detected, penal action must be taken against them,” the bench observed.

The Assam government has launched a series of eviction drives. The Assam government has reclaimed 182 square kilometres of land from encroachers. Over 50, 000 people are evicted.