The Gauhati High Court has directed families residing in the Doyang and Nambor reserve forests in Assam’s Golaghat district to vacate the area within seven days, warning that the state government is empowered to evict them if they fail to comply.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury passed the order on Monday while hearing petitions filed by 74 residents who challenged eviction notices issued by the district authorities. The petitioners had argued that the notices violated provisions of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, the Assam Land Policy, 2019, and a Supreme Court order dated December 13, 2024.
The bench noted that it had already granted the families 10 days on August 5 to submit documents proving their land rights or vacate the forest land. “The court has already given more time to vacate the forest,” the judges said, reiterating that the deadline must now be adhered to.
The High Court further directed the government to adopt a fair and transparent eviction protocol in the future, mandating a 15-day notice period and an additional 15 days for families to relocate.
Emphasising the need to protect the ecological balance of reserve forests, the court ordered the state to establish a “proper check mechanism” to prevent future encroachments. Suggested measures include securing entry points, erecting barbed wire at porous borders, and setting up functional checkpoints.
The bench stressed accountability of officials, cautioning that penal action should be taken against forest department personnel and other authorities if they fail to prevent illegal entry. The court also recommended periodic reviews and constant surveillance of reserve forests to prevent fresh encroachments.
