ENCROACHMENT OF GOVERNMENT LAND
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: We will take action against the encroachers of government land in two months. The Assam government gave this assurance to the Gauhati High Court.
After hearing the PIL (Suo Moto-10/2018) via video-conferencing, the High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Manash Ranjan Pathak said, "We have been apprised that the encroachers have also been identified, and the Government proposes to take action against them in accordance with law. We have also been informed that proper application/ petition shall be filed before the appropriate Court under provisions of the 'Assam Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act-2010'. We have been also assured that the same shall be done within a period of two months."
In an earlier hearing of this PIL, after a report was called for, the State government had filed a detailed report which showed that "the land which is under encroachment was allotted to different government authorities of the State Government, which is under encroachment and a breakup of which has been given along with the affidavit dated 19.03.2021 of the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam."
An important aspect has been brought to the knowledge of this Court by means of this public interest litigation, which is that a vast area of land in Kamrup (Metro) District is under encroachment.
Broadly, the affidavit indicates that out of 2,652 bighas, 2 kathas and 17 lechas of land, which was allotted to different Government Departments, 268 bighas, 2 kathas, and five lechas were under encroachment. Of these 268 bighas, the Government has been able to regain 33 bighas, 2 kathas, and 13 lechas of land. But broadly, 235 bighas of land remains under encroachment.
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