Gauhati HC Directs Assam Govt To Compensate Persons Whose Houses Were Bulldozed Illegally By Police

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam Government to compensate persons affected by the illegal action of bulldozing of their house.

The bench of Chief Justice R.M. Chhaya and Justice Soumitra Saikia directed thus, "...it is expected that the State shall also take appropriate decision for compensating the persons affected by the illegal action of the officer.”

This comes after the Court registered suo motu Public Interest Litigation on the basis of the allegation that the house belonging to one of the citizens of Nagaon was bulldozed by the police personnel of Batadraba Police Station.

Advocate H.K. Das counsel for the Gauhati High Court, D. Saikia, Advocate General, Assam assisted by D. Nath, Senior Government Advocate, Assam appeared before the Court.

D. Saikia, Advocate General, Assam informed the Court that a Committee consisting of the Chief Secretary of Assam is enquiring into the incidence of bulldozing of the house and appropriate action shall be taken against the erring officers within a period of 15 days.

Therefore in view of such assurance from the Advocate General and in view of the fact that the State is now seized of the matter, the Court observed that it expects the State to take appropriate decision for compensating the persons who have been affected by the bulldozing action.

The Court directed the report of the same to be produced before it.

“Report of the same shall be produced before this Court in this proceeding.”, the Court said.

“The proceedings are closed with liberty to revive merely by filing a note. Mr. H.K. Das, learned counsel for the Gauhati High Court shall look into the matter.”, the Court held.

Cause Title- XXX v. State of Assam & Ors.

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