The Gauhati High Court has issued a temporary stay on an eviction drive in four villages under the Jalukbari forest range, providing interim relief to over 300 families. The stay order, which is effective until 19th August (Tuesday), was issued during a hearing on multiple petitions filed by the affected residents.
The villages of Talapani, Garobasti, Boragaon, and Kotahbari were served eviction notices as part of a forest clearance drive. However, the High Court intervened after observing that the state government’s affidavit lacked clarity on whether the land in question was classified as forest or revenue land.
The villagers, many of whom have lived in the area for decades and possess documents to prove their residence, have argued that the eviction would render them homeless and that the rehabilitation measures offered by the authorities are inadequate. The court’s interim relief provides time for the petitioners to build their case, with the next hearing scheduled for 19th August (Tuesday), where the state is expected to clarify the legal status of the land.
