Eviction Saga in Assam's Reserved Forests: Rights and Rifts

The Gauhati High Court has mandated residents facing eviction from the Doyang and South Nambar forests in Assam's Golaghat district to either provide evidence of their land rights within ten days or vacate the premises. This directive came as Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar examined the petition put forth by 74 individuals claiming ancestral possession of the land.

In their plea, the petitioners contested eviction notices issued by district authorities, arguing that these actions contravene provisions outlined in both the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, and the Assam Land Policy, 2019, as well as guidelines from the Supreme Court's order in December 2024. They claim that they have inhabited the land since their forefathers' time, and the ambiguity surrounding the demarcation of the land in question needs resolution.

The state opposed this, stating that the appellants are squatters in long-standing reserved forest areas, unsupported by formal documents, and do not qualify as forest dwellers or identifiers of jhum cultivation rights. Despite the petitioners' assertions, the court emphasized the necessity for the appellants to present tangible proof to legitimize their claims while prolonging the submission deadline. The court set a hearing for August 14 to further deliberate on this contentious issue.

(With inputs from agencies.)