HC refuses to interfere in Kaziranga eviction drive

The Gauhati High Court today refused to interfere in the eviction drive started in Kaziranga National Park, home to one-horned rhinoceros.
The petitioners sought relief to protect their stay at Bandardubi village until compensation is received by the occupiers.
A division bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Paran Kumar Phukan refused to interfere in the eviction drive after hearing a writ petition filed by one Md Jalal Uddin and three other residents of Bandardubi village of Nagaon District against the ongoing eviction drive in the national park.
The petitioners' contention was they were facing eviction from the park and sought a direction for payment of compensation for their dislocation and protection of their stay at Bandardubi village until compensation was received.

The petition had also referred to the minutes of a meeting of the Assam government on September 5, wherein it was projected that while eviction was the outcome of the direction given by the court in its order of October 9, 2015, disbursal of compensation for the evicted was not ruled out.
The court, after hearing the case, held that the status of the occupiers of Bandardubi and Deusur Chang villages was illegal.

The bench had earlier noted that public interest requires clearance of the national park from all encroachers and accordingly, the application concerned filed by the villagers of Bandardubi and Deusur Chang villages was dismissed.

After hearing of the case, the court held there was no justification to stop the eviction drive.
It observed that the government has decided to verify the entitlement of compensation and it would do the needful in accordance with the decision taken in the meeting held on September 5.