Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday stated that the Supreme Court’s has allowed the state to conduct eviction drives in reserved forest areas, subject to clearance from a specially constituted committee.
Addressing a press conference in Dispur on Wednesday, the Assam Chief Minister termed it a ‘landmark judgment’, adding that it will streamline anti-encroachment drives.
CM Sarma said, “Some people had moved to the Supreme Court saying that there is no right of the Assam government to conduct eviction. The Supreme Court has directed us to not conduct eviction in 300 petitioners, on basis of this, we could not able to conduct eviction in 10-15 percent areas in Golaghat and Nagaon district.”
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“The apex court has issued a direction that the state government has the right to conduct an eviction drive in the forest areas, but we will have to form a committee including the DC and forest officials. They will issue eviction notice, if someone says that their land is not fall under the forest area, then the committee will hear this and will give speaking order. If in the speaking order it is said that the land is under the forest area, then the state government can conduct an eviction,” he added.
The Chief Minister added that the judgment was given by Justice Alok Aradhe along with Justice Narasimha, highlighting that the entire process has been streamlined now.
“If land falls under the forest area then the committee will give speaking order and the state government can conduct eviction within 15 days. If the committee says that the land falls under the revenue department, then the revenue department will take the next step. If encroachment happens in the forest area, then the state government has the right to evict. The committee can decide it. It is a historic victory of the Assam government,” CM Sarma said.
