Gauhati High Court gives petitioners liberty to approach competent authority in grievances regarding sudden change of administrative district

The Gauhati High Court gave liberty to the petitioners to approach the competent authority for redressal of their grievances regarding sudden change of administrative district.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice  Sandeep Mehta and Justice Soumitra Saikia disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) preferred by the petitioners who are the residents of district of Cachar, Assam. 
The petitioners are aggrieved that on the eve of the process of commencement of delimitation exercise in the State of Assam w.e.f. 01.01.2023, the impugned notification dated 31.12.2022 was issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, General Administration Department. By this impugned notification, the existing administrative district in respect of the revenue villages mentioned in the said notification has been changed from Cachar district to Karimganj district.
According to the petitioners, such sudden change of administrative district would cause enormous inconveniences and harassment to the general public of those villages, besides causing administrative hardship. Representation was filed before the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam as well as the Principal Secretary, Government of Assam, General Administration Department which, however, according to the petitioners, has not been considered.  
D. Saikia,  Advocate General of the State submits that once the delimitation process has commenced, there is no question of change of boundaries until this process is completed. However, he fairly submits that the petitioners may approach the authority including Delimitation Commission for redressal of their grievances.   
P.K. Roychoudhury, counsel for the petitioners submits that if liberty is given, the petitioners will approach the authority and file a representation seeking redressal of their grievances.   
In view of the submissions at the Bar, the  PIL is closed by the High Court  without expressing anything on merit, giving liberty to the petitioners to approach the competent authority and to file a representation seeking redressal of their grievances. The petitioners are also entitled to approach the Delimitation Commission as well as the State authorities ventilating their grievances. The concerned authorities will thereafter objectively consider and pass appropriate orders in the representations to be filed by the petitioners., the Court directed.