Gauhati High Court direction on Eviction from Reserved Forests

The Gauhati High Court has directed families residing inside the Doyang and Nambor reserve forests of Assam’s Golaghat district to vacate the land within seven days, reiterating that no encroacher can claim legal rights over reserved forest land. The court clarified that even past lapses or unofficial allowances cannot override the sanctity of forest laws.

The High Court also directed the Assam government to ensure that a proper check mechanism is put in place, which would prevent any illegal entry in the reserved forest area.

The ruling also framed structured guidelines for future eviction drives. Authorities must give affected residents adequate time—fifteen days for preparation and another fifteen days for vacating—while simultaneously ensuring preventive measures such as fencing forest boundaries, setting up permanent checkpoints, and enforcing accountability through disciplinary action against negligent officials.

By emphasizing penal action not only against encroachers but also against complicit officials, the judgment highlights a dual responsibility: ecological preservation through strict legal enforcement and administrative vigilance. This strengthens forest governance while underlining the principle that conservation of biodiversity-rich habitats like Doyang and Nambor cannot be compromised for human settlement.