Assam Residents Seek Supreme Court Help Over Demolition Orders
Over 40 residents from the Sonapur area in Assam have moved the Supreme Court, alleging that local authorities violated an interim order dated September 17, which directed that no demolition should take place without prior permission. The plea, filed through advocate Adeel Ahmed, seeks contempt proceedings against those responsible for the alleged violation.
The Supreme Court had earlier ordered that no demolitions should occur without its permission, except for unauthorized structures in public spaces or where a court had ordered demolition. The petitioners argue that local authorities began the eviction process by placing red stickers on their homes without any notice or formal communication.
The petitioners, including Faruk Ahmed, have lived in the villages of Kachutoli Pathar, Kachutoli, and Kachutoli revenue village in Sonapur mouza, Kamrup Metro district, for many years. They occupy the land under a deed of Power of Attorney executed by the original landowners. Although they do not hold ownership rights, they emphasize that the Power of Attorney is legally valid, allowing them to reside on the land.
The petition also refers to a Gauhati High Court order dated September 20, 2024, where the Advocate General provided an undertaking that no action would be taken against the petitioners until their representations were disposed of, following the Supreme Court’s February 3, 2020 order. Despite this, the authorities allegedly marked the petitioners’ homes for eviction without prior notice.
The petitioners claim they have peacefully lived on the land for over seven or eight decades without any dispute with neighboring tribal or protected communities. They assert that they are not illegal occupiers and have been allowed to reside there by the original landowners, many of whom belong to protected classes. They clarified that the land was never sold to them, and they have never claimed ownership.
The case is scheduled for hearing on September 30 before a bench comprising justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice.
Demolition Orders -: Demolition orders are instructions to tear down buildings or homes. This can happen if the buildings are not legal or safe.
Sonapur -: Sonapur is a place in the state of Assam, which is in the northeastern part of India.
Interim Order -: An interim order is a temporary decision by a court. It is made to stop something from happening until a final decision is made.
Eviction -: Eviction means being forced to leave your home or land. This can happen if you don’t own the property or if there are legal issues.
Power of Attorney -: A Power of Attorney is a legal document. It allows someone to make decisions or act on behalf of another person.
Illegal Occupiers -: Illegal occupiers are people who live on land or in buildings without legal permission. They do not have the right to be there.
Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan -: Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan are judges in the Supreme Court of India. They will listen to the case and make a decision.