Gauhati High Court
Page No.# 1/2 vs District Commissioner Goalpara And 3 ... on 1 October, 2024
Author: Devashis Baruah
Bench: Devashis Baruah
Page No.# 1/20
GAHC010199202024
THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
(HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)
Case No. : WP(C)/5033/2024
ANSER ALI AND 29 ORS
AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS,
S/O LATE INATULLAH SK,
R/O VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI, P.O.- KRISHNAI, P.S.- MATIA, DISTRICT-
GOALPARA, ASSAM, PIN- 783126.
2: HAMIDA BEGUM
AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS
W/O- HASMOT ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
3: GOLAFUDDIN
AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS
S/O- BAJATULLA SARKAR
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
4: AKBAR ALI
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS
S/O- BAYTULLA SARKAR
Page No.# 2/20
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
5: DILBOR HUSSAIN
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
S/O- BOYTULLA SARKAR
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
6: AJAHAR ALI
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
S/O- KALIMUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
7: REAZAUL ISLAM
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O- NIZAM UDDIN
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
8: MANNAF ALI
AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS
S/O- KALIMUDDIN
Page No.# 3/20
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
9: ANOWAR HUSSAIN
AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS
S/O- KALIMUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
10: KURBAN ALI
AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS
S/O ANOWAR ALI
R/OVILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
11: IDRIS ALI
AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS
S/O- JAHIRUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
12: CHAN MAMUD
AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS
S/O- HAYAT ALI
Page No.# 4/20
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
13: HABIBAR RAHMAN
AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS
S/O- AJIBAR RAHMAN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
14: SIDDIQUE ALI
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O-JAHIRUDDIN SHEIKH
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
15: LALU SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS
S/O- JAIMUDDIN SHEIKH
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
16: BARKAT ALI
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
S/O LOKAMAN ALI
Page No.# 5/20
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
17: KACHIMADDIN SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
S/O- KENARUDDIN
R/O VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
18: SHAHJAHAN ALI
AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS
S/O- ANSAR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
19: ACHATULLA SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
S/O- CHAHEBULLA
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
20: SHAHIDUL ALI
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
S/O- SANTESH ALI
Page No.# 6/20
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
21: GAJI RAHMAN
AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS
S/O- HAMED ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
22: RAHAM ALI
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
S/O- MAKBUL HUSSAIN
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
23: NUR MAHAMMOD
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O- FOJOR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
24: AJGAR ALI
AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS
S/O- CHAHETULLA
Page No.# 7/20
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
25: SHEIKH FARID
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
S/O- AJGAR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
26: SOKIAR RAHMAN
AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS
S/O- AJGOR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
27: SANTESH ALI
AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS
S/O- BARAN ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
28: TAYAJAL SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS
S/O- JULAMAT ALI
Page No.# 8/20
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
29: ANOWAR HUSSAIN
AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS
S/O- FARIJUDDIN AHMED
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
30: SUKUR ALI
A AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS
S/O- CHATUR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126
VERSUS
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER GOALPARA AND 3 ORS
P.O, P.S AND DIST- GOALPARA, ASSAM, PIN-783101
2:DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER (T)
GOALPARA DIVISION
P.O. AND P.S.- GOALPARA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783101.
Page No.# 9/20
3:CIRCLE OFFICER
RANGJULI REVENUE CIRCLE
RANGJULI
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM.
4:RANGE FOREST OFFICER
RANGJULI RANGE
RANGJULI
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
Linked Case : I.A.(Civil)/3114/2024
ANSER ALI AND 29 ORS
AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS
S/O LATE INATULLAH SK
R/O VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT-GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
2: HAMIDA BEGUM
AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS
W/O- HASMOT ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
3: GOLAFUDDIN
AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS
S/O- BAJATULLA SARKAR
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 10/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
4: AKBAR ALI
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS
S/O- BAYTULLA SARKAR
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
5: DILBOR HUSSAIN
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
S/O- BOYTULLA SARKAR
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
6: AJAHAR ALI
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
S/O- KALIMUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
7: REAZAUL ISLAM
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O- NIZAM UDDIN
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 11/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
8: MANNAF ALI
AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS
S/O- KALIMUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
9: ANOWAR HUSSAIN
AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS
S/O- KALIMUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
10: KURBAN ALI
AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS
S/O ANOWAR ALI
R/OVILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
11: IDRIS ALI
AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS
S/O- JAHIRUDDIN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 12/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
12: CHAN MAMUD
AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS
S/O- HAYAT ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
13: HABIBAR RAHMAN
AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS
S/O- AJIBAR RAHMAN
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
14: SIDDIQUE ALI
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O-JAHIRUDDIN SHEIKH
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
15: LALU SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS
S/O- JAIMUDDIN SHEIKH
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 13/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
16: BARKAT ALI
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
S/O LOKAMAN ALI
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
17: KACHIMADDIN SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
S/O- KENARUDDIN
R/O VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
18: SHAHJAHAN ALI
AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS
S/O- ANSAR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
19: ACHATULLA SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
S/O- CHAHEBULLA
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 14/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
20: SHAHIDUL ALI
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
S/O- SANTESH ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
21: GAJI RAHMAN
AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS
S/O- HAMED ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
22: RAHAM ALI
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
S/O- MAKBUL HUSSAIN
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
23: NUR MAHAMMOD
AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS
S/O- FOJOR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 15/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
24: AJGAR ALI
AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS
S/O- CHAHETULLA
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
25: SHEIKH FARID
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
S/O- AJGAR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
26: SOKIAR RAHMAN
AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS
S/O- AJGOR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
27: SANTESH ALI
AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS
S/O- BARAN ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
Page No.# 16/20
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
28: TAYAJAL SHEIKH
AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS
S/O- JULAMAT ALI
R/O-VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
29: ANOWAR HUSSAIN
AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS
S/O- FARIJUDDIN AHMED
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
30: SUKUR ALI
A AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS
S/O- CHATUR ALI
R/O- VILLAGE- ASHUDUBI
P.O.- KRISHNAI
P.S.- MATIA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783126.
VERSUS
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER GOALPARA AND 4 ORS
P.O
P.S AND DIST- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN-783101
Page No.# 17/20
2:DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER (T)
GOALPARA DIVISION
P.O. AND P.S.- GOALPARA
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM
PIN- 783101.
3:CIRCLE OFFICER
RANGJULI REVENUE CIRCLE
RANGJULI
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM.
4:RANGE FOREST OFFICER
RANGJULI RANGE
RANGJULI
DISTRICT- GOALPARA
ASSAM.
5:THE STATE OF ASSAM
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVT.
OF ASSAM
FOREST DEPARTMENT
DISPUR
GUWAHATI-6
For the applicant (s) : Mr. H. Das, Advocate
For the respondent (s) : Mr. K. P. Pathak, Advocate
MR. J. Handique, Govt. Advocate
Page No.# 18/20
BEFORE
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH
ORDER
01.10.2024
Heard Mr. H. Das, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
petitioners. Mr. K. P. Pathak, the learned counsel appears on behalf of the
Forest Department and Mr. J. Handique, the learned counsel appears on
behalf of the District Administration.
2. The petitioners herein have approached this Court challenging the
notice dated 06.09.2024 whereby the Divisional Forest Officer, Goalpara
had informed all residents residing in the Paikan Reserved Forest that they
would be evicted shortly from the Reserved Forest. The case of the
petitioners is that although the said notice dated 06.09.2024 is in respect
to the Paikan Reserved Forest and the petitioners reside in revenue lands
which are not within the Paikan Reserved Forest, but there is an
apprehension of the petitioners that in carrying out the eviction drive in
the name of eviction from Paikan Reserved Forest, the petitioners would
also be affected. It is under such circumstances, the petitioners have
approached this Court.
3. Mr. K. P. Pathak, the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the
Forest Department submitted that in respect to this Paikan Reserved
Forest, there was a notice issued earlier on 06.12.2017 which was a
subject matter of challenge in WP(C) No.8101/2017. The said writ petition
was disposed of by this Court vide the order dated 02.02.2024 whereby
this Court had permitted the respondent Forest Department to proceed
with the eviction from the Paikan Reserved Forest, however, after making
Page No.# 19/20
due consultation with the Revenue Department. The learned counsel for
the Forest Department submitted that in pursuance to the said order
passed by this Court, the notice dated 06.09.2024 was issued. It has also
been submitted that against the order dated 02.02.2024 passed in WP(C)
No.8101/2017, a Writ Appeal was filed being WA No.333/2024. The
learned Division Bench vide the order dated 24.09.2024 while confirming
the judgment and order passed by this Court dated 02.02.2024 clarified
that before taking any action against the appellants in that appeal or
similarly situated persons, the Forest Authorities are required to ascertain
that the lands occupied by the appellants or similarly situated persons falls
within RF or PRF lands and after ascertaining the same, the Forest
Authorities can take any action against only those persons who have
illegally occupied the RF or PRF lands. The Leonard Counsel for the Forest
Department submitted that the Forest Authorities are only going to carry
out an eviction only in respect to the Paikan Reserved Forest land and
nothing more.
4. This Court is of the opinion that in view of the order passed by the
learned Division Bench dated 24.09.2024 passed in WA No.333/2024, the
petitioners' apprehension does not survive taking into account that there is
a categorical direction to the Forest Authorities only to initiate action for
eviction upon those persons who have illegally occupied the RF or PRF
lands, and more so, when the said order specifically mentions about
appellants as well as similarly situated persons.
5. Accordingly, this Court therefore disposes of the instant writ petition
thereby directing the Forest Authorities that while taking steps in
pursuance to the notice dated 06.09.2024 shall ascertain with the
Page No.# 20/20
Revenue Authorities that the land so occupied by the petitioners herein
are situated in Paikan Reserved Forest and only after ascertaining the
same, the Forest Authorities can take any action against those persons
who have illegally occupied the Paikan Reserved Forest.
6. With the above observation and direction, the instant writ petition
stands disposed of.
JUDGE
Comparing Assistant
