Gauhati High Court seeks clarity on rehab for evicted people in Assam

The Gauhati High Court issued an order seeking clarification from the Assam government on how it intends to provide rehabilitation and compensation to those evicted in a recent demolition operation. Justice Devashis Barua directed several state departments to file affidavits outlining their stance on the petition filed by 76 individuals.

The eviction, carried out by authorities of the Kamrup Metropolitan district at Kachutoli in the Sonapur area about 20 km east of Guwahati, targeted roughly 100 bighas of land classified as notified tribal land. Between September 23 and 25, 2024, around 650 families—approximately 2,000 people—were removed, most of whom were migrant Bengali Muslims. The operation began on September 9, was briefly halted when the displaced villagers re‑occupied the site three days later, and resumed, resulting in two deaths (Haider Ali and Jubahir Ali) and 33 injuries among villagers, officials and police before concluding on September 25. The court has asked for departmental responses by October 6.

The affected families had been living on privately recorded patta land after being forced out of their original occupation, without any promised rehabilitation or compensation. The court’s intervention highlights concerns over the legality of the demolition, the rights of displaced communities, and the responsibility of the state to address their livelihood and resettlement needs.