Disposed

Samsul Haque Laskar and 54 Ors. v. the State of Assam and 4 Ors.

Gauhati HC2 Aug 2023WP(C)/1096/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In a writ petition by 55 individuals claiming long-standing occupation of forest land, the High Court directed petitioners to submit individual applications and supporting documents for settlement and forest rights claims to the Divisional Forest Officer. Upon submission, the authority must consider the claims after hearing, and eviction is stayed until verified.

What did the court decide?

Petitioners directed to submit applications for settlement and forest rights to Divisional Forest Officer within two weeks; eviction stayed until verification by authority.

Samsul Haque Laskar and 54 Ors. Vs the State of Assam and 4 Ors. — Gauhati HC (2023) — LawSathi Research

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Page No.# 1/14

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GAHC010029802022

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THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

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Case No. : WP(C)/1096/2022

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SAMSUL HAQUE LASKAR AND 54 ORS S/O LT. SIRAJ UDDIN LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V., P.O. BORTHAL, P.S. LALA, DIST. HAILAKANDI, ASSAM, PIN-788113

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2: BADRUN NESSA

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D/O. LATE SIRAJ UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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3: MANIR UDDIN LASKAR @ MANIR ALI LASKAR

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S/O AJFOR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 4: ABDUL MOTIN LASKAR S/O MANIR ALI LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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5: NACHIR UDDIN LASKAR S/O LT. AJFOR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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6: JALAL UDDIN S/OLATE SONAHAR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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7: ASAK UDDIN S/O JALAL UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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8: AJMAL HUSSAIN LASKAR S/O JALAL UDDIN LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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9: FARAS UDDIN S/O LATE SUNAHAR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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10: CHALE AHMED S/O FARAS UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V.

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P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 11: ALI AHMED LASKAR S/O FARAS UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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12: SAFIK UDDIN S/O LT. SAKAT ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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13: JAHIRUL ISLAM LASKAR S/O SAFIK UDDIN LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 14: FOYAJUN NESSA D/O LT. SAKAT ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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15: ALI AKBAR BARBHUIYA S/O LATE MAKTAR ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI

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ASSAM PIN-788113

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16: RAFIK UDDIN BARBHUIYA S/O LATE MAKTAR ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 17: NEZAM UDDIN BARBHUIYA S/O RAFIK UDDIN BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 18: SAIF UDDIN S/O RAFIK UDDIN BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 19: FAIZUR RAHMAN S/O LATE SARAF UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 20: ATIKUR RAHMAN S/O LATE SARAF UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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21: AKLAM UDDIN S/O LATE SARAF UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 22: MUSTABUR RAHMAN S/O LATE SONABOR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 23: SADIKUR RAHMAN LASKAR S/O LATE SONAHOR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 24: ALEKJAN BIBI W/O LATE MOTIBUR RAHMAN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 25: ATABUR RAHMAN S/O LATE ACHADDAR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 26: ABDUL KHALIQUE LASKAR S/O LT. TAJAMUL ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V.

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P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 27: ENAM UDDIN S/O LT. ABDUL KHALIQUE LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 28: NAIM UDDIN LASKAR S/O ABDUL KHALIQUE LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 29: ALA UDDIN S/O LT. TAZAMUL ALI LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 30: SAMIM UDDIN LASKAR S/O ALA UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 31: NURUL ISLAM LASKAR S/O LT. LIAKAT ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI

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ASSAM PIN-788113 32: MAINUL ISLAM LASKAR S/O LT. LIAKAT ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 33: KAMRUL ISLAM S/O LT. LIAKAT ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 34: SELIM UDDIN S/O LT. ATABUR RAHMAN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 35: ABDUL ALI S/O LT. KALA MIA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 36: MAYUBUR RAHAN S/OLT. KALA MIA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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37: AKAL ALI S/O LT. AJIR UDDIN RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 38: ALI AKBOR S/O AKAL ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 39: REJIA BEGOM D/O AKAL ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 40: LUTFUR RAHMAN BARBHUIYA S/OLT. ABDUL REJAK BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 41: NUR ISLAM S/OLT. ATOR ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 42: RUKIA KHATUN W/O LT. NUR AHMED RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V.

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Page No.# 9/14

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P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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43: GOLJAR HUSSAIN S/O LT. NUR AHMED RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 44: REJAK ALI BARBHUIYA S/OLT. MAHMUD ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 45: AJIM UDDIM BARBHUIYA S/O REJAK ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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46: ABJAL HUSSAIN BARBHUIYA S/O REJAK ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 47: MUSABBIR ALI BARBHUIYA S/O REJAK ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI

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ASSAM PIN-788113

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48: MASAID ALI BARBHUIYA S/OLT. MAHMUD ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 49: AJIJUR RAHMAN BARBHUIYA S/O LT. MAHMUD ALI BARBHUIYA RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 50: ALA UDDIN S/O LT. CHIDDEK ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 51: ISLAM UDDIN S/O LT. CHIDDEK ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 52: ANARA KHATUN D/O CHIDDEK ALI RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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53: NEJAM UDDIN LASKAR S/O LT. MUBID ALI LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113 54: TABIJAN BIBI LASKAR W/O LT. ISLAM UDDIN LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788113

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55: JAUDIL UDDIN LASKAR S/O LT. ISLAM UDDIN LASKAR RESIDENTS OF LALPANI F.V. P.O. BORTHAL P.S. LALA DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-78811

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VERSUS

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THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS

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REP. BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM, ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI-6.

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2:THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST @ HEAD OF FOREST

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ASSAM PANJABARI GUWAHATI-781037.

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3:THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS

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SOUTHERN ASSAM CIRCLE SILCHAR AND CHAIRMAN OF BID EVALUATION COMMITTEE DIST. CACHAR ASSAM PIN-788001

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4:DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER

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HAILAKANDI FOREST DIVISION HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-788151.

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5:THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER

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MATIJURI DIST. HAILAKANDI ASSAM PIN-78815

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Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. S B LASKAR

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Advocate for the Respondent : SC, FOREST

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BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SUMAN SHYAM

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ORDER

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02.08.2023

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Head Mr. S. B. Laskar, learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioners. Also heard Mr. D. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department, Assam appearing for the respondents.

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The writ petitioners herein, numbering 55 in total, claim to be in occupation of land situated at Lalpani Forest Village under Matijuri Range of Hailakandi Forest Division, Hailakandi. According to the petitioners, they have been in occupation of the aforesaid land through their forefathers since the year 1950 and have been earning their livelihoods by cultivating the aforesaid forest land. Being landless persons the petitioners were entitled to settlement rights over the aforesaid land. However, apprehending eviction from the land at the instance of the State Forest Department, the petitioners have approached this Court by filing the instant writ petition inter-alia contending

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that being the descendants of the original allotees of the land as per the confidential report dated 15.07.1974 submitted by the then Deputy Conservator of Forests, Cachar the petitioners are entitled to settlement of the forest land. That apart, the petitioners are also entitled for recognition of their claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. As such, the respondents be directed to consider the case of the writ petitioners from the aforesaid perspective.

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Mr. D. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department, Assam, on the other hand, submits that the claim of the petitioners would require factual verification which would not be possible in a writ petition. Mr. Gogoi submits that a similar writ petition being WP(C) No.2540/2023 [Ismail Ali and 16 others Vs. The State of Assam and 3 others ] was earlier disposed of by the learned Single Judge by order dated 20.06.2023 with a direction upon the concerned Divisional Forest Officer to verify the claim of the petitioners based on documents to be produced by them and thereafter, pass appropriate order in the matter in accordance with law. Mr. Gogoi submits that if a similar order is passed in this case as well, he would have no objection.

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Having heard the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and taking note of the nature of disputes involved in this case, this writ petition is therefore, disposed of by providing that within two weeks from today, the petitioners may submit appropriate applications asserting their claim for settlement over the land and also for forest rights along with supporting documents before the respondent No.4 i.e. the Divisional Forest Officer, Hailakandi Forest Division, Hailakandi. If individual applications are filed by the petitioners within 2 (two) weeks from today in the manner provided by this order, then their claim be looked into and after hearing the petitioners,

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appropriate orders be passed on their respective applications in accordance with law.

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Until such time the aforesaid exercise is carried out and completed by the concerned authority, the petitioners shall not be evicted from the land under their occupation.

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With the above observation, this writ petition stands disposed of.

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JUDGE

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Comparing Assistant

Samsul Haque Laskar and 54 Ors. v. the State of Assam and 4 Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Samsul Haque Laskar and 54 Ors. v. the State of Assam and 4 Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

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