The Gauhati High Court, comprising Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Kaushik Goswami, has recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition challenging the validity of a notification issued by the District Commissioner, Cachar.
The notification, dated October 16, 2024, renamed the Badripar Gaon Panchayat under Banaskandi Development Block at village Badripar and notified it as the Headquarters of Gangapur-Badripar Gaon Panchayat under Rangpur Development Block at village Gangapur.
The petitioners, 12 in number, claimed that the notification would affect thousands of residents of village Badripar.
However, the court held that the delimitation process is an administrative exercise within the domain of administrative authorities.
The petitioners, though aggrieved, could not represent the entire village, which may not have been affected by the delimitation process.
Therefore, the PIL petition was deemed not maintainable.
The counsel for the petitioners, R C Paul, sought to withdraw the PIL petition but requested liberty to challenge the delimitation process through appropriate proceedings before the relevant forum.
The court allowed the withdrawal with liberty, as prayed for.