Atiqur Rahman and 123 Ors v. The State of Assam and 9 Ors

ORDER Date : 12.01.2024

¶1The instant writ petition has been taken up for disposal at the motion stage itself taking into account the facts involved.

¶2The facts of the instant case as could be discernible from a perusal of the writ petition are that the Petitioners herein claims that they are residents of village Madhurbond, P.O: Bhurunga, under Police Station Patharkandi in the District of Karimganj. It is the specific case of the Petitioners that they have not encroached upon the reserve forest upon the Duhalia Protected Forest and have also not constructed any house, pond as alleged in various notices which have Page No.# 11/12 been issued.

¶3The grievances of the Petitioners are that the Forest Officials without taking into consideration that the Petitioners are actually residing in the revenue village land at Madhurbond have issued the various notices to the Petitioners that they have entered into the Duhalia Protected Forest and constructed houses, ponds and converted the forest land into agricultural land for which the instant writ petition has been filed.

¶4This Court has also heard Mr. I. Borthakur, the learned Standing counsel appearing on behalf of the Forest Department who supports the impugned notices which have been issued on the ground that the Petitioners are in illegal occupation of the Duhalia Protected Forest area.

¶5The dispute which has been raised inter se between the Petitioners and the Respondents cannot be decided in the instant proceedings inasmuch as whether the Petitioners are in occupation of revenue village land or have encroached upon the Duhalia Protected Forest are questions of facts which can be decided on the basis of proper field verification. This issue however can be resolved by issuing appropriate directions by this Court.

¶6Accordingly, the instant writ petition therefore stands disposed of with the following observations and directions:

(i) This Court directs the Circle Officer, Patharkandi Revenue Circle, Patharkandi who is the Respondent No.4 in the instant proceedings as well as the Range Officer, Duhalia who is the Respondent No.9 in the instant writ proceedings to carry out the verification as to whether the Petitioners are in possession of land within the village Madhurbond or had encroached in the Duhalia Protected Forest area on the basis of the available maps and on site Page No.# 12/12 field verification. The said verification shall be conducted on site on 30.01.2024 at 11 AM. The said officials shall permit the Petitioners through a representative to be present while carrying out the said on site verification. The Petitioners are directed to choose a representative to represent them during the on site field verification. Depending upon the said outcome of verification, the Respondent Authorities shall take appropriate steps in accordance with law.

(ii) This Court further directs that till the verification is concluded, the possession of the Petitioners as they stands today shall not be disturbed.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant

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