Guwahati: The Guwahati High Court has reaffirmed the constitutional obligation of the Assam government to remove encroachments from reserved forests and protect the environment, while granting alleged encroachers 30 days to vacate forest land in a significant judgment concerning reserved forest areas in the state.A single-judge bench of Justice Devashis Baruah delivered the verdict in a batch of petitions challenging speaking orders issued against alleged encroachers in reserved forests, including Lutumai and BarpReserved Forests.
It is the constitutional obligation cast upon the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife, the court observed.The court granted the petitioners 30 days to remove their belongings and make alternative arrangements.
It directed the state government, district administration, police and forest officials to take steps to remove the petitioners from the reserved forests if they fail to vacate within the stipulated period.The court also directed the Managing Director of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) to disconnect electricity connections of the petitioners and other encroachers against whom speaking orders have been passed, after the expiry of 30 days.In its order, the court observed that diversion of land within reserved forests for non-forest purposes such as schools, hospitals, anganwadis, fair price shops, roads, electric and telecommunication lines, and community centres is not permissible unless approved in accordance with law.
