Darranga forest families to vacate within 3 months, Guwahati HC

Guwahati: The Guwahati High Court has ordered the families living in Darranga Reserve Forest in Assam’s Baksa district to vacate the land within three months.

The court said the families have been illegally occupying the land for years, and if they fail to vacate it within the stipulated time, the authorities will evict them without any notice.
The court also directed the Assam government to inform the families at least 30 days in advance about their food, water, shelter and rehabilitation arrangements.
The government has also been asked to consider the families’ requests for allotment of land and decide within three months.

The court’s order came after a writ petition filed by 88 petitioners alleging illegal and arbitrary action by the state government to evict them.
The court said the government should provide essential food, water, shelter and other basic amenities to the families for a period of three months, even if they vacate the land on their own within the time allowed by the court.