Page No.# 1/12 vs The State Of Assam And 4 Ors on 16 February, 2026

                                                                  Page No.# 1/12

GAHC010008092025




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

                          Case No. : WP(C)/643/2025

         HEMEN DAS AND 57 ORS.
         SON OF LATE RAGHU NATH DAS,
         RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN, WARD NO.2, P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY, DIST.-
         BARPETA, ASSAM.

         2: AJIM UDDIN
          SON OF LATE ZUMAR UDDIN

         RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- JOYPUR
         P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
         DIST.- BARPETA
         ASSAM.

         3: RUFIAN AHMED
          SON OF AJAHAR ALI
         RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KOTHLIJAR
          P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
          DIST.- BARPETA
         ASSAM.

         4: KHALILUR RAHMAN
          SON OF NURUL ISLAM
         RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
         WARD NO.1
          P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
          DIST.- BARPETA
         ASSAM.

         5: BIKASH CHANDRA SAHA
          SON OF LATE NITYANANDA SAHA
         RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
         WARD NO.9
          P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
          DIST.- BARPETA
                                  Page No.# 2/12

ASSAM.

6: SAIFUL ISLAM
 SON OF LATE EASIN ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- ITERVITA
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

7: MANOJ BASAK
 SON OF LATE MANINDRA BASAK
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

8: JAYNAL ABDIN
 SON OF ALABASK
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KADAMGURI
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

9: IMAN ALI
 SON OF LATE AHMED ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- JOYPUR
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

10: MD. MOKIBUL ISLAM
 SON OF LATE SHAHEB ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KALJHAR
 P.O.- BARBALA
 P.S.- HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

11: SUMA SAHA
 SON OF LATE SANJIB SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
 WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

12: SHAHADAT ALI
                                                Page No.# 3/12

SON OF ABDUL KADER
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KANDARPAR
P.O.- KUJAR PITH
P.S.- HOWLY
DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

13: RAJIB HUSSAIN
 SON OF ABUL HUSSAIN
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE AND P.O.-GHILAJARI
 P.S.- HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

14: ATOWAR RAHMAN
 SON OF EKKABAR ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- HALAPAGURI
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

15: SHAJAHAN ALI
 SON OF BASER ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- PHULKIPARA
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

16: AMIR HAMZA
 SON OF AKKAS ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE AND P.O.-BARBALA
 P.S.- HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

17: SHREE HARI BASAK
 SON OF NURULISLAM LATE RAKHAL CHANDRA BASAK
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

18: GADADHAR
 SON OF KHITISH CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
                                          Page No.# 4/12

DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

19: RAJIB SAHA
 SON OF RANU SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

20: BOLAI MITRA
 SON OF BIKASH MITRA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

21: PRAMOD SAHA
 SON OF JOGESH CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

22: MOHADEV SAHA
 SON OF BHABENDRA KR. SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

23: NARESH CHANDRA SAHA
 SON OF LATE PURNA CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

24: AKKAS ALI
 SON OF LATE SAMSUL ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE AND P.O.-KUJARPITH
 P.S.- HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
                                   Page No.# 5/12

ASSAM.

25: HAFIJUR RAHMAN
 SON OF SARBESH ALI
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.8
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

26: BISWANATH SAHA
 SON OF JITENDRA MOHAN SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.1
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

27: KHAIRUL ISLAM
 SON OF AKKABAR ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- HELAPAGURI
 P.S.- HOWLY
 P.O.- GULEJHAR
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

28: FORMAN ALI
 SON OF KUDRAT ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- ITERVITA
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

29: NURMOHAMMAD ALI
 SON OF LATE FORDUZ ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KATHLIJHAR
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

30: RUHIDAS KARMAKAR
 SON OF GAUR KARMAKAR
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.
                                Page No.# 6/12

31: MANORANJAN SAHA
 SON OF LATE RATANLAL SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

32: LOKNATH SAHA
 SON OF LATE GAUR GOPAL SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

33: MOHAN SAHA
 SON OF LATE ANANTA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

34: ARUP KUMAR SHAHA
 SON OF LATE AMULYA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

35: BIBEK KARMAKAR
 SON OF LATE GAUR KARMAKAR
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

36: SUNIL KUMAR SAHA
 SON OF LATE HARIDAS SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.
                               Page No.# 7/12

37: MANORANJAN SAHA
 SON OF RATANLAL SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

38: GOPAL SAHA
 SON OF LATE HARIDAS SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. ANDP.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

39: KRISHNA KANTA NATH
 SON OF LATE BAIKUNTHA NATH
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
 MAIRAMARA
WARD NO.2
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

40: BHAGADUTTA DAS
 SON OF LATE NIRANJAN DAS
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.7
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

41: KHARGASWAR NATH
 SON OF LATE KRIPAL NATH
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.3
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

42: UTTAM BASAK
 SON OF LATE HARIPADA BASAK
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.2
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.
                                   Page No.# 8/12


43: TAPAN KUMAR SAHA
 SON OF KISHORI MOHAN SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

44: NIMAI SAHA
 SON OF LATE KISHARI MOHAN SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.6
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

45: SULTAN MAHMUD
 SON OF LATE HAJI RAMJAN ALI
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.10
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

46: DELOWAR HUSSAIN
 SON OF SARHAB ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KADAMGURI
 P.S.- HOWLY
 P.O.- DABALIAPARA
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

47: RAJU SAHA
 SON OF GOPAL CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

48: GAUTAM SAHA
 SON OF LATE ANIL CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.
                                          Page No.# 9/12


49: AZADMAT ALI
 SON OF LATE HAJI RAMJAN ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- HALAPAGURI
 P.S.-HOWLY
 DIST.-BARPETA
ASSAM.

50: NIRANJAN SAHA
 SON OF LATE BIRENDRA KUMAR SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

51: MANOJ SAHA
 SON OF MANORANJAN SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

52: SUDIP SAHA
 SON OF LATE MANGAL SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.4
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

53: JAFAR ALI
 SON OF LATE SAMSUL ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE AND P.O.-KUJARPITH
 P.S.- HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

54: PANKAJ SAHA
 SON OF NARESH CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

55: NRIPENDRA KUMAR SAHA
                                                  Page No.# 10/12

SON OF LATE BIJAY JOBINDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

56: ANUWAR HUSSAIN
 SON OF LATE HAYET ALI
RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- BARJHAR
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

57: BISWAJIT SAHA
 SON OF LATE JOGESH CHANDRA SAHA
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.9
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM.

58: SHAHIDULL AHAMED
 SON OF NURUL ISLAM
RESIDENT OF HOWLY TOWN
WARD NO.1
 P.S. AND P.O.-HOWLY
 DIST.- BARPETA
ASSAM

VERSUS

THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS
REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM, URBAN DEVELOPMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI-
781006.

2:THE DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION
ASSAM
 DISPUR
 GUWAHATI-781006.

3:THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER
 BARPETA
 P.O
 P.S. AND DIST- BARPETA
ASSAM
 PIN-781301.
                                                                        Page No.# 11/12


           4:THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER
            HOWLY MUNICIPAL BOARD
            HOWLY. P.O.-HOWLY
            DIST.- BARPETA
           ASSAM. PIN-781316.

           5:THE CHAIRPERSON
            HOWLY MUNICIPAL BOARD
            HOWLY. P.O.-HOWLY
            DIST.- BARPETA
           ASSAM. PIN-781316

Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. N J DUTTA, MR N AHMED,MR. M M ZAMAN,MR A
BASUMATARY,M RAHMAN

Advocate for the Respondent : GA, ASSAM,




                                 BEFORE
                HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY

                                           ORDER

Date : 16.02.2026

1. Though service upon respondent No.5 is complete, none appears for the said respondent.

2. Accordingly, the writ petition shall proceed ex-parte.

3. The petitioners are owners of the shop in the Howly Market under the Howly Municipal Board.

4. It is the contention of the petitioners that the Board without consulting with the experts as mandated under law as well as without any approval from the Committee, which is required to fix the rent as well as enhance it, under the Municipal Act, 1956 had unilaterally enhanced the annual rent and also asked the petitioners to deposit the security amount under the notice dated 29.05.2024.

Page No.# 12/12

5. It is the contention of the petitioners that such exercise of power is beyond the scope of Assam Municipal Act, 1956.

6. The respondent No.3 has filed an affidavit contending that such decision to enhance the rent and security deposit was taken in a joint meeting between the Municipal Board and the lease holders.

7. Mr. NJ Dutta, learned counsel for the petitioners contends that no such meeting was ever held and accordingly, prays for an adjournment to file a rejoinder affidavit.

8. Prayer stands allowed.

9. List this matter again on 23.03.2026.

10. By the next date fixed, the respondent No.3 shall keep the minutes of the meeting ready, which was purportedly held on 17.10.2022 between the members and the lease holders, based on which they have enhanced the rent.

11. The interim order passed earlier shall continue till the next date fixed.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant