RATNESWAR KALITA Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Both the writ petitions are taken up for disposal vide the common judgment and order taking into account that the Petitioners in both the writ petitions are same and the issues arising out therein are interrelated.

(2.) The case of the 15 Petitioners in WP(C) 1767/2012 are that they claim that they have constructed their permanent as well as temporary houses in Dag Nos.459, 463, 589, 513, 526, 504, 468, 527, 528, 615, 544 and 548 respectively at Village-Dakhingaon (South Kalapahar) under Mouza-Beltola during the period from 1978 1985. The Petitioners claim that they have been living and enjoying their plots of land peacefully and paying the land revenue (Touzi Bahira) to the Revenue Authorities from time to time in respect of their land in occupation. It is further mentioned in the writ petition that the Petitioners' houses were assessed by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and granted holding numbers. The Petitioners are also enjoying electricity connection on the basis of No Objection Certificates issued by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation.

(3.) It is the further case of the Petitioners that the Respondent authorities especially the Respondent Forest Authorities tried to evict the Petitioners along with other persons from their respective plots of land by demolishing their houses with the help of elephant, bulldozers etc. in the year 2002. Under such circumstances, the Petitioners along with others approached this Court by filing writ petitions which was registered and numbered as WP(C) No.5356/2002, WP(C) No.5206/2002, WP(C) No.5302/2002, WP(C) No. 5567/2002 and WP(C) No.5207/2002. All these writ petitions were disposed off by the common judgment and order dtd. 15/6/2007 by this Court with a direction to the Respondents, particularly the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam to constitute an appropriate Committee consisting of officers from concerned department including the Forest and Revenue Departments to look into the matter and to suggest to the Government the actions to be taken to resolve the dispute. This Court further directed that the status quo as on 15/6/2007 in respect to the possession be maintained till a decision is taken by the Government.