The Gauhati High Court has directed the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram to constitute a high-level committee to address the issue of forest encroachments along their inter-state borders. The directive came during a hearing on two public interest litigations (PILs) seeking removal of illegal settlements from forest lands in Assam.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury ordered the chief secretaries and heads of the forest departments of the four states to hold a joint meeting and formulate a comprehensive plan to make the forest areas free from encroachments.
“Convene a high-level meeting… for formulating a comprehensive plan for making the forest area encroachment free,” the bench stated in its order, underscoring the need for coordinated inter-state action.
The PILs, filed by Guwahati-based NGO Asom Basaok in 2018 and two residents of Sreebhumi district in 2023, initially focused on encroachments within Assam. However, during a 2023 hearing, the court noted that several forest areas along Assam’s borders with Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram were also encroached upon. Consequently, it included the three neighbouring states as parties to the case.
The High Court’s order coincides with Assam’s ongoing eviction drives targeting illegal occupants on government and forest lands. The most recent and largest such drive began Tuesday in Uriamghat near the Assam-Nagaland border, aiming to clear 1,500 hectares of forest land of more than 2,500 unauthorized structures.
The bench acknowledged that several inter-state meetings had already taken place and emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue in resolving the matter. “This court believes nothing can remain unresolved with a fruitful dialogue,” the judges remarked, while also lauding the absence of any contentious border issues raised during discussions among the states.
Stressing that clearing encroachments is a priority over pending border disputes, the court noted, “Border disputes would be resolved but before that, what is of utmost importance is that the forest area falling under the territorial jurisdiction of the States ought to be free of all encroachments.”
The court also cited the Supreme Court’s ruling mandating protection of forest areas, warning that continued encroachments exacerbate biotic pressure and environmental degradation.
The four states have been asked to report on the committee’s resolutions and actions taken by the next hearing, scheduled for November 4.
