Compensation, resettlement irrelevant: Government to Gauhati High Court

Dholpur eviction

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government informed the Gauhati High Court that the evicted occupants of the Dholpur village in Sipajhar were 'encroachers as such they are liable to be evicted at any time as per rules framed under Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886'.

The State Government, however, told the Court that "on humanitarian ground, they have been provided with basic amenities. An area of about 1000 bighas of land in the southern part No. 1 and No. 3 Dholpur village has been earmarked for relocating the evicted persons subject to verification of the status of erosion affected and landless status in their respective original places, citizenship and the existing rehabilitation policy of the state.

"The matter is related to encroachment and eviction from government land and not about the acquisition of land. Therefore, the question of resettlement, rehabilitation and compensation etc as per the Land Acquisition Act is irrelevant."

On behalf of the Assam Government, Sipajhar Circle Officer Kamaljeet Sarma submitted the affidavit to the Court.

The High Court granted one week to the government to file a detailed counter affidavit as sought.

The petitioner may file his rejoinder within three weeks. The High Court listed the PIL (65/2021) filed by Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Debabrata Saikia for the next hearing on December 14, 2021.

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