Assam demolition drive leaves 73 Muslim families homeless
Gauhati HC questions legality of eviction drive and denial of fair hearing
Dispur: Seventy-three Muslim families have been left homeless in Assam’s Goalpara district after authorities demolished their homes following a 24-hour eviction notice, prompting the Gauhati High Court to question the legality of the drive and whether residents were given a fair opportunity to be heard.
The demolitions were carried out in villages under the Matia Revenue Circle, including Harimura, Bhojmala Tengabari, Paschim Bhelakhamar, Kharija Manikpur and Jotsarwadi.
The administration claimed that the houses had been built on agricultural land that had not been converted for residential use and that some structures were obstructing natural drainage.
Residents, however, questioned the manner in which the eviction was carried out, saying they were not given adequate time to challenge the action or even safely remove their belongings.
The Gauhati High Court, while hearing a petition challenging the demolitions, prima facie questioned their legality and observed that the exercise appeared to violate the principles of natural justice. The court also slammed the state government for demolishing homes without providing residents an opportunity to be heard.
The petitioners told the court that notices were issued on September 5, requiring them to vacate within 24 hours, before demolition teams arrived on September 7.
The court questioned what “imminent danger” had warranted such urgent demolitions and sought a response from the Assam government.
Residents disputed the administration’s claim that their homes were illegal encroachments, saying they possessed documents relating to the land on which their houses were built.
The Goalpara demolitions come against the backdrop of BJP-ruled Assam’s long-running eviction drives, which have repeatedly displaced vulnerable communities in the name of clearing alleged encroachments.
