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Gauhati High Court apprises state government of constituting the Public Land Protection Cells

The Assam government has apprised the Gauhati High Court that the process for putting in place the mechanism of constituting the Public Land Protection Cells in all the districts of Assam has been initiated.

The Division bench of the Chief Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Mitali Thakuria herad a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed alleging that certain individuals have illegally encroached on a plot of Government land admeasuring 2 bighas 5 kathas 8 lechas in the Sutirpur village of Nagaon district which was in possession of the Water Resource Department since the year 1955-56.

The petitioners have asserted in the petition that before approaching the Court, numerous complaints were filed to the concerned in relation to this illegal act of encroachment but without fetching any fruitful result. Thereupon, the petitioners have been compelled to approach the Court by way of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondent authorities to take appropriate action against the illegal occupants on Government lands and to demolish the structures raised thereupon.

On May 15 , the High Court directed the State authorities to issue the requisite notification for formation of Public Land Protection Cells in each district .

The High Court in PIL of 2018 directed the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam to devise a permanent mechanism to be operational in every district of the State to entertain and deal with such complaints pertaining to encroachments on Government lands. The relevant direction given by this Court in the said writ petition are reproduced hereinbelow for the sake of ready reference:-

“This Court is often called upon to entertain writ petition styled as Public Interest Litigation (PIL) from across the State with the allegations of encroachments over pasture land, catchment areas, ponds, rivers, lakes, public places, burial grounds etc. In all such petitions, it is a common factor that despite repeated complaints/representations to the concerned authorities, no steps are taken to remove the encroachments.

Thus, in order to provide a pan-Assam solution to this ever persisting problem, we hereby consider it appropriate to direct the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam to devise a permanent mechanism to be operational in every District of the State where the District Collector of the District would be required to periodically notify the general public to lodge the complaints/representations with regard to such encroachments to specially designated Public Land Protection Cell (for short, PLPC). The PLPC to be constituted only for looking after issues of rural areas, should be headed by the District Collector and shall function under his direction and supervision. Upon complaints/representations of this nature being received, the PLPC shall get such allegations made therein enquire into by deputing the concerned Revenue Officers so as to verify the factum of encroachments having taken place. If the allegations are found to be substantiated, appropriate lawful steps for removal of the encroachments shall be taken against the trespassers. The complaints/representations received by the PLPC should be decided after objective consideration by passing a speaking order informing the respective complainant/representation maker about the action taken.

The learned Advocate General, Assam shall take up the matter with the concerned authority for establishing a similar grievance redressal mechanism in the Municipal areas as well.

This would obviate the necessity of the persons aggrieved approaching the Court directly by way of Public Interest Litigation.

Needless to say that action to be taken by the PLPC shall keep into account the plea of the alleged encroachers and would not take a one sided action.

The PLPC shall also keep in view the guidelines issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Jagpal Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Ors., reported in (2011)11 SCC 396.”

Advocate General, Assam, D. Saikia submits that by inadvertent error, the said order could not be communicated to the State Government authorities and thus, till date notification for constituting the Public Land Protection Cells has not been issued.

In this background, the Court directed that copy of the aforesaid order dated 02.03.2023 passed in PIL of 2018 shall be provided to Advocate General Mr. Saikia forthwith, who shall instruct the State authorities to issue the requisite notification for formation of Public Land Protection Cells in each district and shall also be transmitted to the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam.

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