Page No.# 1/17 vs The State Of Assam And Othrs
2025 Latest Caselaw 8979 Gua

Gauhati High Court

Page No.# 1/17 vs The State Of Assam And Othrs on 28 November, 2025

                                                                Page No.# 1/17

GAHC010264162025




                                                          2025:GAU-AS:16334

                      THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT
  (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

                        Case No. : WP(C)/6738/2025

         SAIDUL ISLAM AND 100 OTHRS
         S/O- ABDUL AWALR/O- MATIKHOLA, DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST-
         NAGAON , ASSAM

         2: JAMAL UDDIN
          S/O- SURMAN ALIR/O- MATIKHOLA
          DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST- NAGAON
         ASSAM

         3: ABDUL HATEM
          S/O- IMAN ALIR/O-LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARADIST - NAGAON

         4: ABDUL KHALEK
          S/O- ABDUL KADIRR/O- LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA
          DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NAGAON

         5: ISMAT ALI
          S/O - FAJAR ALI R/O- CHENGAJANDIST- NOGAON
         ASSAM

         6: NUR AHMED
          S/O - LATE AJIR UDDINR/O- LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURIPS- KACHUADIST-
         NOGAON
         ASSAM

         7: SOIF UDDIN
          S/O- JAMAL UDDIN R/O- LUTUMARI
          RANIPUKHURI PART
          DAPARAPS- KACHUA
          DIST - NOGAON
         ASSAM

         8: ALAL UDDIN
          S/O- LATE JABED ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARADIST -
                                                       Page No.# 2/17

NOGAON
ASSAM

9: HABIBUR RAHMAN
 S/O- ABDUL JABBARR/O - LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHAL
 DAPARADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

10: FAKAR UDDIN
 S/O- SURMAN ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

11: ABDUL JALIL
 S/O- ABDUL RASIDR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

12: NUR ISLAM
 S/O - HAJRAT ALIR/O- CHIMLAIPATHAR
 MATIKHOLADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

13: TAHAR ALI
 S/O- LATE HUSSAIN ALI R/O- MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

14: JALAL UDDIN
 S/O- ABDUL RASIDR/O- MATIKHOLADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

15: SADIQUL ISLAM
 S/O- JAYNALABEDINR/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARADIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

16: NURAHMAMAD
 S/O- NASAR ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTOBANANCHALP.S - KAMPURDIST-
NOGAON
ASSAM

17: TAFAJUL ALI
 S/O- NAYEM UDDINR/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

18: ICHAMA BEGUM
W/O- CHAHAJ UDDINR/O- SIMLAIPATHAR
 MATIKHOLAP.S- KAMPURDIST - NOGAON
ASSAM
                                                         Page No.# 3/17


19: ABDUL MATIN
 S/O- AKKACH ALIR/O- NO1 CHANKHOLA
 MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KAMPURDIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

20: KHAIRUL ISLAM
 S/O- ALTAB ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHAL
 DAPARAPS- KAMPURDIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

21: FATEMA BIBI
W/O- ABDUL JABBARR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KAMPURDIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

22: AJAHARHUSSEN
 S/O- LATE JABED ALIR/O- MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

23: ALTAB ALI
 S/O- LATE JABED ALIR/O- MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

24: JAKIR HUSSAIN
 S/O- INTAJ ALIR/O- MATIKHOLADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

25: ABDUL AJID
 S/O- ABDUL RASIDR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHALPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

26: JAMIR UDDIN
 S/O- FURKAN ALIR/O- MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

27: ABDUL RASID
 S/O- LATE SAMSUDDINR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHAL
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

28: ABDUL SALAM
 S/O- NURUMIYANR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST
- NOGAON
 ASSAM
                                                     Page No.# 4/17

29: NAJIR HUSSAIN
 S/O- ISHAK ALIR/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

30: ICHAK ALI
 S/O- KALA MIYANR/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

31: ABDUL KALAM
 S/O - AYUB ALIR/O- RANI PUKHURI DAPARA
 MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

32: HABIBUR RAHMAN
 S/O- ABDUL SATTARR/O- LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURI
 MAIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

33: JOYNALABEDIN
 S/O- LATE HASSEN ALIR/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

34: KUTIMIYAN
 S/O- LATE ABDUL JABBARR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

35: ABIDA BEGUM
W/O- JAMAL ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

36: RAJU ISLAM
 S/O- MALEM UDDINR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

37: AMENAKHATUN
W/O- ALTAB ALI R/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

38: AJIJULHOQUE
 S/O- IDRISH ALI R/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM
                                                     Page No.# 5/17


39: NASIR UDDIN
 S/O- AFAJ UDDINR/O-
 MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

40: FAKAR UDDIN
 S/O- LATE ABDUL JALILR/O- MATIKHOLA
 DUMAIHAGI
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

41: SHWARIF UDDIN
 S/O- MANTAJ ALIR/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

42: AINUL HAQUE
 S/O- RAHUL AMINR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHAL
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

43: MAHIDUL ISLAM
 S/O- NURMAHAMMADR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHALPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

44: AMINA BEGUM
W/O- MANIKR/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

45: JAMAL UDDIN
 S/O- ARUJ ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHAL
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

46: MAJIBUR RAHMAN
 S/O- ABDUL SATTARR/O- LUTUMARIRANIPUKHURI
 MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

47: GULJAR HUSSAIN
 S/O- MAHAMMAD ALIR/O- LUTUMARI MUKTA BANANCHAL
 MATIKHOLADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

48: IBRAHIM ALI
 S/O- AHMAD ALI R/O-LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
                                                      Page No.# 6/17

DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

49: ABDUL JALIL
 S/O- SAMSULHOQUER/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

50: ABU HANIFA
 S/O- IYAJ UDDIN R/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

51: BILAL UDDIN
 S/O- IYAJ UDDIN R/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

52: SALIM UDDIN
 S/O- SAMSULHOQUER/O- MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

53: SAIFUL ISLAM
 S/O- NUR UDDIN R/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

54: MARFAT ALI
 S/O- MAJUBADDINR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

55: NURNABI
 S/O- MACHAR ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

56: SAIFUL ISLAM
 S/O- NURNABIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST -
NOGAON
ASSAM

57: MOKECH UDDIN
 S/O- LATE KERAMAT ALIR/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST -
NOGAON
ASSAM

58: KHAIRUL ISLAM
                                                     Page No.# 7/17

 S/O- NURULHUDAR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST
- NOGAON
 ASSAM

59: SUKUR ALI
 S/O- KUTIMIYANR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS - KACHUADIST
- NOGAON
 ASSAM

60: RAMJAN ALI
 S/O- KALIM UDDIN R/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON

ASSAM

61: KUTUB UDDIN
 S/O- SURMAN ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

62: NURULHUDA
 S/O- ABDUL ISLAMR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

63: JAKIR HUSSAIN
 S/O- ABDUL KUDDUSR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

64: HAIDUL ISLAM
 S/O- SIRAJ UDDIN R/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST
- NOGAON
 ASSAM

65: HANIF ALI
 S/O- ABDUL JABBARR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

66: EAKLACH UDDIN
 S/O- SUMAN ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST -
NOGAON
ASSAM

67: FAKAR UDDIN
 S/O-HARJAT ALI R/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM
                                                      Page No.# 8/17


68: SAMSULHOQUE
 S/O- CHAYAB ALI R/O- MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

69: MAINULHOQUE
 S/O- KUDDUS ALIR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHALPS- KACHUADIST
- NOGAON
 ASSAM

70: ABUL KALAM
 S/O-ARAJ ALIR/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

71: AJIBUR RAHMAN
 S/O- NABI HUSSAINR/O- MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

72: ABDUL KALAM
 S/O- LATE NURUMIYANR/O- LUTUMARIMATIKHOLADAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST- NOGAON
ASSAM

73: NIJAM UDDIN
 S/O- ABDUL KADIRR/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST -
NOGAON
ASSAM

74: NURMAHAMMAD
 S/O- SAFUR UDDIN R/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST -
NOGAON
ASSAM

75: DULAL UDDIN
 S/O- NAWAJ ALI R/O- MATIKHOLADAPARAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

76: ABDUL HASIM
 S/O- ABDUL GAFURR/O- LUTUMARIMUKTABANANCHALDAPARAPS-
KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSAM

77: NURULIMAN
 S/O - CHERAK ALI R/O - LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

78: JAKIR HUSSAIN
                                              Page No.# 9/17

S/O - ABUL HUSSENR/O - MATIKHOLA
DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

79: CHAFIK UDDIN
 S/O - ABDUL LATIF R/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

80: AKKAS ALI
 S/O - KASEM ALI R/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

81: NUR MUHAMMAD
 S/O - JUNAB ALI R/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST- NAGAON
ASSAM

82: GIYACH UDDIN
 S/O - HUSSAIN ALI R/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

83: RAFIKUL ISLAM
 S/O - ROYSUDDINR/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST NAGAON
ASSAM.

84: MIRAJ ALI
 S/O - MUNTAZ ALI R/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUADIST NAGAON
ASSAM.

85: SADDAM HUSSAIN
 S/O - MAINUL HAQUER/O - LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARAP/S - KACHUA
DIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

86: IMARAN HUSSAIN
 S/O - ICHAK ALI R/O - LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARA
P/S - KACHUADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

87: FATEMAKHATUN
W/O - KUNUMIYANR/ O - LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
                                                       Page No.# 10/17

DAPARA
DIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

88: USMAN ALI
 S/O - ABDUL RAHIMR/O - LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
 DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

89: ABDUL KHALIL
 S/O - ABDUL RASIDR/O - MATIKHOLA
 DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

90: ABDUL AWAL
 S/O - SAMSUDDINR/O - LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM.

91: FAIJUL ISLAM
 S/O - KUTI MIYA R/O - MATILHOLA
 DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

92: ABDUL SAHID
 S/O - ABDUL RAHIM R/O - LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURI
DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

93: KASEM ALI
 S/O - LATE KUDDUS ALIR/O - MATILHOLA
 DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

94: NURUL HAQUE
 S/O - LATE KUTEMIYANR/O - LUTUMARI RANI PUKKHURI
DAPARADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM

95: SURHABALI
 S/O - ASMAT ALIR/O -SIMLAIPATHAR
DAPARADIST -NAGAON
ASSAM

96: BURHAN UDDIN
 S/O - JONAB ALI R/O - SIMLAIPATHARBORAPATIADIST - NAGAON
ASSAM .
                                                      Page No.# 11/17

97: NUR MIYA
 S/O -SAMSUL HAQUER/O -BAKULAGURI
DAPARADIST -NAGAON
ASSAM

98: ABDUL MALAK
 S/O - MARFAT ALI
R/O -LUTUMARIMATIKHOLA
DAPARA.DIST -NAGAON
ASSAM

99: ABDUL HAQUE
 S/O- MOHAMMAD HASAN ALIR/O- MATIKHOLA
 LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURI PS- KACHUADIST- NOGAN
ASSAM

100: ABDUL AJIJ
 S/O- ABDUL HAQUE R/O- LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURI PS- KACHUADIST -
NOGAON
ASSAM

101: JUSNA BEGUM
W/O- ABDUL JABBARR/O- LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURI
 MATIKHOLAPS- KACHUADIST - NOGAON
ASSA

VERSUS

THE STATE OF ASSAM AND OTHRS
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM,
ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE DEPARTMENT, DISPUR,
GUWAHATI 06

2:THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM
 REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
 DISPUR
 GUWAHATI 06.

3:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS AND HEAD OF
FOREST FORCE
ARANYA BHAWAN
 PANJABARI
 GUWAHATI
ASSAM
 PIN 781037.

4:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER
 NAGAON FOREST DIVISION
                                                                      Page No.# 12/17

             NAGAON
             ASSAM
             PIN - 782001.

            5:THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
             NAGAON
            ASSAM - 78200

Advocate for the Petitioner   : MR. MASUM ALAM, MR. A HUDA,MS. D BORA,MR B M DEKA

Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST, SC. REVENUE,GA, ASSAM



                                    :::BEFORE:::
                    HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KARDAK ETE


                    Date on which judgment is reserved     : N/A
                    Date of pronouncement of judgment       : 28.11.2025
                    Whether the pronouncement is of
                    the operative of the judgment?         : No


                    Whether the full judgment has been
                    pronounced?                            : Yes

                                JUDGMENT (ORAL)

Heard Mr. M. Goswami, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr. B. M. Deka, learned counsel for the petitioners in WP(C) No. 6738/2025, and Mr. A. R. Bhuyan, learned counsel for the petitioners in WP(C) No. 6764/2025. Also heard Mr. P. N. Goswami, learned Additional Advocate General for the State respondents.

2. The petitioners have assailed the order dated 21.11.2025, passed by the Page No.# 13/17

Divisional Forest Officer, Nagaon Division, Nagaon, whereby the representations of the petitioners have been rejected (through identical individual orders), pursuant to the order of Division Bench of this Court dated 18.08.2025, passed in WA No. 251/2025 and WA No. 252/2025, and directed the petitioners to vacate the forest land on or before 29.11.2025, failing which eviction proceeding shall be carried out forthwith by the forest department.

3. Having considered the issues involved and the order put to challenge is identical and similar on facts and law, both these 2 (two) writ petitions are heard together and, as agreed to by the learned counsel for the parties, same are disposed of at the motion stage considering the order proposed to be passed (infra).

4. In WP(C) No. 6738/2025, the petitioners, 101 in numbers, and in WP(C) No. 6764/2025, the petitioners, 66 in numbers, have raised the common grievance who claims to be the landless persons other than the land presently under their occupation alleged to be under the Lutumai Reserve Forest in the District of Nagaon, Assam.

5. Shorn of unnecessary details, the case of the petitioners is that they were issued notice for eviction alleging illegal occupation in the Lutumai reserve/protected forest area vide dated 08.10.2025 by the Divisional Forest Officer, Nagaon Forest Division directing them to submit any claim/representation or supporting documents, if any, to justify their occupation of the said forest land within 15 (fifteen) days. Pursuant thereto, the petitioners in WP(C) No. 6738/2025 have submitted joint representation on 22.10.2025 before the Divisional Forest Officer, however, t, the petitioners in WP(C) No. 6764/2025 have not submitted any representation. Thereafter, the petitioners approached this Court by way of writ petitions, being WP(C) No. 6290/2025 & Page No.# 14/17

WP(C) No. 6167/2025, challenging the notice of eviction dated 21.11.2025. This Court, vide orders dated 06.11.2025 & 17.11.2025, disposed of the writ petitions with the following observation:

"14. It is observed that if any representation is received from any of the noticees/petitioners herein by the respondent no. 4, the respondent no. 4 shall examine such representations and the supporting documents in justification of the parcels of land he/she is in occupation. The order so passed by the respondent no. 4 shall be communicated to the petitioners / representationists forthwith thereafter. The respondent no. 4 shall examine whether the parcels of land under the occupation of the noticees/petitioners fall inside or outside the boundaries of Lutumari Reserved Forest declared by the Notification dated 07.08.1928. It is further observed that if any parcel of land under the occupation of any noticee/petitioner is found outside the boundaries of the Lutumari Reserved Forest, no eviction exercise, as contemplated in the Notice dated 08.10.2025, shall be undertaken by the respondent no. 4. It is further observed that if the parcels of land under the occupation of the noticees/petitioners are found inside the boundaries of Lutumari Reserved Forest, then the respondent no. 4 shall carry out the exercise to clear the Lutumari Reserved Forest areas in accordance with law and as per due procedure."

6. By an order dated 21.11.2025, the Divisional Forest Officer, Nagaon Division, Nagaon, has disposed of the representations of the petitioners pursuant to the order of the Division Bench of this Court dated 18.08.2025, passed in WA No. 251/2025 & WA No. 252/2025, and rejected the representations of the petitioners by common and identical orders (though issued individually to the petitioners). Hence, these writ petitions.

7. Mr. M. Goswami, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners in WP(C) No. 6738/2025, and Mr. A. R. Bhuyan, learned counsel for the petitioners in WP(C) No. 6764/2025, have submitted that the impugned orders have been passed without considering the materials/documents submitted by the petitioners. The consideration is only based on the purported joint verification by the departments which has carried out behind the back of the petitioners. It is submitted that even after the clear direction by the Court dated 06.11.2025 & 17.11.2025 directing the respondents to examine the representation and the Page No.# 15/17

supporting documents which the petitioners have submitted for justification of the claim of the petitioner with regard to the occupation of the land, no consideration of such documents or representations has been made by the respondent authorities. While referring to the impugned orders, the learned Senior Counsel, submits that a bare perusal of the same clearly indicates that the basis of the order is only on the purported joint verification which reflects its perfunctory exercise as the rejection is on the ground that the petitioners are alleged to be within the notified area of Lutumai Reserve Forest, which was notified in the year 1928 under the provisions of Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. Therefore, submits that the petitioners, having been settled in the area for last 40 years and above by validly constructing their residential houses under the government scheme, they cannot be evicted without due process of law.

8. Mr. P. N. Goswami, learned Additional Advocate General, submits that as per the joint verification report, which is based on boundary coordinates of Lutumai Reserve Forest and corresponding KML image and all other relevant records, the petitioners are illegally residing within the Lutumai Reserve Forest. Therefore, the petitioners are liable to be evicted from the said Lutumai Reserve Forest as they could not place any documents and establish their right of occupation.

9. Having submitted above, Mr. P. N. Goswami, learned Additional Advocate General, fairly submits that the authorities are ready to consider the case of the petitioners afresh in view of the fact that the joint verification, which is the basis for rejection of representation, appears to be only by the authorities in the absence of the petitioners. Accordingly, he submits that the respondent authorities may be directed to have a joint verification, including the petitioners, to verify the claim of the petitioners.

Page No.# 16/17

10. Having considered the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and also considering the fair submissions of Mr. P. N. Goswami, learned Additional Advocate General, and without going into the claims and counter claims or merits of the matters, as well as in view of the orders passed by the Division Bench and Co-ordinate Bench of this Court, I am of the considered view that the interest of justice would be served if the respondent authorities are directed to consider the case of the petitioners afresh by providing an opportunity to the petitioners to submit their documents in support of their claims with regard to the occupation of the land and also to have a joint verification including the petitioners so as to ascertain the actual facts of the claim of occupation and as to whether the petitioners are occupying the land within the Lutumai Reserve Forest.

11. Accordingly, the respondent authorities are directed to conduct a joint verification of the entire area claimed and occupied by the petitioners in the presence and participation of the petitioners. The petitioners shall also be provided an opportunity to submit documents in support of their claims. Thereafter, the respondent authorities shall consider the claim of the petitioners in accordance with the law.

12. It is made clear that in the event the petitioners are found to be occupying land within the notified Lutumai Reserve Forest, they shall be evicted by providing reasonable time preferably 14 (fourteen) days notice to vacate the land.

13. It is further directed that the petitioners shall submit their claims and objections and the supporting documents within a period of 7 (seven) from today. The exercise of physical joint verification, as directed herein above, shall be conducted within 7 (seven) days thereafter. The entire process and exercise, Page No.# 17/17

so directed herein above, shall be completed within an outer limit of 35 days from today.

14. Consequently, the impugned order dated 21.11.2025, passed by the Divisional Forest Officer, Nagaon Division, Nagaon, is hereby set aside.

15. Writ petitions are disposed of in terms above.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant