Page No.# 1/18 vs The State Of Assam And 5 Ors on 31 March, 2026

                                                                  Page No.# 1/18

GAHC010058412026




                                                          undefined

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

                          Case No. : WP(C)/1688/2026

         SAIDUL ISLAM AND 81 ORS
         S/O ABDUL AWAL, R/O MATIKHOLA DAPARA, PS KACHUA, DIST-
         NAGAON, ASSAM

         2: JAMAL UDDIN
          S/O SURMAN ALI
          R/O MATIKHOLA DAPARA
          PS KACHUA
          DIST NAGAON
         ASSAM

         3: NUR AHMED
          S/O LATE AJIR UDDIN
          R/O LUTUMARI RANI PUKHURI
          PS KACHUA
          DIST NAGAON
         ASSAM

         4: ABDUL HATEM
          S/O IMAN ALI
          R/O LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
          DIST NAGAON

         5: ISMAT ALI
          S/O FAJAR ALI
          R/O CHENGAJAN
          DIST NAGAON
         ASSAM

         6: JAKIR HUSSAIN
          S/O ABDUL KUDDUS
          R/O VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
          PS KACHUA
          PIN 782428
                                       Page No.# 2/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

7: FATEHA KHATUN
W/O KANU MIYA
 R/O VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

8: ABDUL AWAL
 S/O LATE SAMDUDDIN
 R/O VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

9: JAKIR HUSSAIN
 SO INTAJ ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

10: FAKAR UDDIN
 SO LATE ABDUL JALIL
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

11: ABDUL SAHID
 SO ABDUL RAHIM
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

12: NUR ISLAM
 SO HARJAT ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 3/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

13: NURUL IMAN
 SO SERAK ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

14: JAMAL UDDIN
 SO ARUJ ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

15: KASEM ALI
 SO LATE KUDDUS ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

16: USMAN ALI
 SO ABDUL RAHIM
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

17: AJIJUL HOQUE
 SO IDRISH ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

18: ABDUL KHALEK
 SO ABDUL KADIR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 4/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

19: AJAJUL HOQUE
 SO IBRAHIM ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

20: NUR MIYA
 SO SAMSUL HOQUE
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

21: KHAIRUL ISLAM
 SO NURUL HUDA
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

22: MINARA BEGUM
 CO HANIF ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

23: AMINA BEGUM
 CO MANIK
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

24: ICHAMA BEGUM
 CO CHAHAJ UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 5/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

25: KUTI MIYA
 SO ABDUL JABBAR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

26: GULJAR HUSSAIN
 SO MAHAMMAD ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

27: SUKUR ALI
 SO KUTI MIYAN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

28: SADDAM HUSSAIN
 SO MAINUL HOQUE
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

29: ABDUL AJID
 SO ABDUL RASID
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

30: MAHIDUL ISLAM
 SO NUR MAHAMMAD
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 6/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

31: NIJAM UDDIN
 SO ABDUL KADIR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

32: NUR MAHAMMAD
 SO JUNAB ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

33: SOIF UDDIN
 SO JAMAL UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

34: ABDUL MATIN
 SO AKKACH ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

35: IBRAHIM ALI
 SO LATE AHMED ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

36: KHAJARUL ISLAM
 SO ALTAB ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 7/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

37: RASIM UDDIN
 SO ABDUL KADIR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

38: TAHAR ALI
 SO HUSSAIN ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

39: MOKALECH UDDIN
 SO KERAMAT ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

40: FAIJUL ISLAM
 SO KUTI MIYAN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

41: AKKAS ALI
 SO KASEM ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

42: FAKAR UDDIN
 SO HARJAT ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 8/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

43: NURUL HAQUE
 SO ABDUL AWAL
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

44: SADIQUL ISLAM
 SO JAYNAL ABEDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

45: DULAL UDDIN
 SO NEMAJ ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

46: CHARUJAJAN NESSA
 CO ABDUL ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

47: JAINAL ABEDIN
 SO LATE HASEN ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

48: RAMJAN ALI
 SO KALIM UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 9/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

49: TUTA MIYAN
 SO REHEMAT ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

50: ICHAK ALI
 SO KALA MIYAN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

51: NUR MAHAMMAD
 SO SAFUR UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

52: ABDUL KALAM
 SO LT NURU MIYAN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

53: ABDUL SALAM
 SO NURU MIYAN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

54: IMARAN HUSSAIN
 SO ICHAK ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 10/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

55: NAJIR HUSSAIN
 SO ISHAK ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

56: MARFAT ALI
 SO MAJUBADDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

57: ABDUL HASIM
 SO ABDUL GAFUR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

58: ABDUL RASID
 SO SAMSUDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

59: NURUL HAQUE
 SO KUTI MIYAN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

60: BILAL UDDIN
 SO IYAJ UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 11/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

61: JAMIR UDDIN
 SO FURKAN ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

62: ABDUL KHALIL
 SO ABDUL RASID
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

63: ABDUL GAFUR
 SO ABDUL JABBAR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

64: EAKLACH UDDIN
 SO SURMAN ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

65: AFSANA BEGUM
 CO RAMJAN ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

66: TAFAJUL ALI
 SO NAYM UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 12/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

67: JALAL UDDIN
 SO ABDUL RASID
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

68: HASEN ALI
 SO OMAR ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

69: SAMSUL HAQUE
 SO CHAYAB ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

70: ABDUL JALIL
 SO SAMSUL HOQUE
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

71: JUSNA BEGUM
 CO ABDUL JABBAR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

72: FARIJ UDDIN
 SO ANJIR ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                      Page No.# 13/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

73: SAHIDUL ISLAM
 SO ABDUL KARIM
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

74: SALIM UDDIN
 SO SAMSUL HAQUE
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

75: JALAL UDDIN
 SO ABDUL RASID
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

76: SHWARIF UDDIN
 SO MANTAJ ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

77: ALAL UDDIN
 SO JABED ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

78: HAIDUL ISLAM
 SO SHITAJ UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
                                                   Page No.# 14/18

DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

79: GIYACH UDDIN
 SO HUSSAIN ALI
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

80: ABDUL JALIL
 SO ABDUL RASID
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

81: HABIBUR RAHMAN
 SO LATE ABDUL JABBAR
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSAM

82: ABU HANIFA
 SO IYAJ UDDIN
 RO VILL LUTUMARI MATIKHOLA DAPARA
 PS KACHUA
 PIN 782428
 DIST NAGAON
ASSA

VERSUS

THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 5 ORS
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO THE GOVT OF ASSAM,
ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE DEPARTMENT, DISPUR,
GUWAHATI 06

2:THE SECRETARY
 GOVT OF ASSAM
 REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
 DISPUR
 GUWAHATI 06
                                                                          Page No.# 15/18

           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
            NAGAON
           ASSAM
            PIN 782001

           5:RANGE FOREST OFFICER
            KAMPUR FOREST RANGE
            NAGAON
           ASSAM
            PIN 782001

           6:THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER
            NAGAON ASSAM- 78200

       For the Petitioner(s)   : Mr. B.M. Deka, Advocate

       For the Respondent(s)   : Mr. P.N. Goswami, Addl. A.G.
                                 Mr. A. Bhattacharya, Standing Counsel




                                BEFORE
                 HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVASHIS BARUAH

                                     ORDER

Date : 31.03.2026

Issue notice making it returnable on 07.04.2026.

2. Mr. P.N. Goswami, the learned Additional Advocate General appears on behalf of the respondent Nos. 1 and 3 to 6 and Mr. A. Bhattacharya, the learned Standing Counsel appears on Page No.# 16/18

behalf of the respondent No. 2 and accepts notice.

3. Extra copies of the writ petition be served upon the respective counsels during the course of the day.

4. 82 petitioners have approached this Court challenging various Speaking Orders enclosed as Annexure-19 (colly), whereby the petitioners have been informed that they have encroached upon the Lutumai Reserved Forest and they were directed to vacate the same within 15 days from the date of the said orders.

5. Mr. B.M. Deka, the learned counsel for the petitioners fairly submitted that the petitioners do not fall within the ambit of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, as well as the rights of the petitioners are not saved in terms with Section 21 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. It is the only contention that the land under the occupation of the petitioners does not fall within the Lutumai Reserved Forest.

6. Upon hearing the learned counsel at length, the issue that arises for consideration is whether the petitioners are in occupation of lands falling within the Lutumai Reserved Forest.

7. This Court, upon perusal of the Speaking Orders finds it Page No.# 17/18

relevant to take note of that there is a mention to a detailed joint verification by the committee members constituted by the Governor of Assam vide the Notification dated 17.02.2026 and in terms with the said joint verification being carried out by the said committee members, it is mentioned that the petitioners are in unauthorized occupation of the Lutumai Reserved Forest.

8. During the course of the hearing, this Court inquired with Mr. P.N. Goswami, the learned Additional Advocate General, as to when the Lutumai Reserved Forest was notified as a reserved forest, and if so, there has to be a Notification in terms with Section 17 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. Apart from that, the joint verification report would also throw some light as regards the occupation of the petitioners' vis-à-vis the land falling within the Lutumai Reserved Forest.

9. Accordingly, this Court directs the respondent State, more particularly, the Forest Department, to place on record by filing a preliminary affidavit bringing on record the Notification issued under Section 17 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891 pertaining to Lutumai Reserved Forest, and further also bringing on record the joint verification report.

10. This Court also takes notice that the Speaking Orders dated 07.03.2026 categorically mentions that the petitioners have Page No.# 18/18

been granted 15 days to vacate their occupation.

11. Mr. P.N. Goswami, the learned Additional Advocate General appearing on behalf of the respondents submitted that till the next date, he undertakes that no steps would be taken.

12. Considering the above, this Court is not inclined to pass any interim directions at this stage.

13. List the matter along with WP(C) No. 1649/2026 on 07.04.2026.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant