The Gauhati High Court on Thursday expressed serious concerns over the rehabilitation of nearly 650 families evicted from a tribal area in Assam's Kamrup Metropolitan district, directing the state government to file a detailed affidavit explaining what steps were taken for their resettlement.
The court was responding to a public interest litigation that highlighted the plight of families who lost their homes after a demolition drive was carried out in September 2024 across approximately 100 bighas of notified tribal land in the Sonapur locality. Most of the affected families belong to Muslim migrant communities who have reportedly been living in the area for several decades.
During the hearing, the bench questioned whether adequate alternative accommodation or compensation had been provided to the displaced families. The court noted that eviction without proper rehabilitation would amount to a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, particularly the right to life and livelihood.
Assam officials indicated that the eviction was conducted as part of a broader operation to protect reserved tribal lands under the Assam Tribal Areas Development Board framework. Authorities maintained that the land in question falls within a notified tribal zone and that the settlements were located without legal authorization. However, the petition argued that the families had resided there for generations and deserved humane rehabilitation rather than outright displacement.
Legal experts familiar with the case noted that similar disputes over tribal land and migrant settlements have surfaced repeatedly in Assam in recent years, often involving complex questions of eligibility under the Foreigners Act and the Sixth Schedule provisions governing tribal autonomy in the state.
The court has directed the state to respond within four weeks with concrete details on relief measures, including temporary shelter, compensation amounts, and any employment assistance offered to the evicted families. The matter is expected to be heard again in early next month.
