Soilo Bala Barman and Ors. v. the State of Assam and Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Mahamaya Temple Dham shopkeepers eviction; Mahamaya Mandir Managing Committee register and rent verification; North East Council funds; ATDC tourist facility project; contractor M/s SBF Commercial Pvt Ltd Rs.11,35,90,000 contract; unauthorised occupation no equitable relief; opportunity to prove genuineness (permission plus rent/revenue till December 2023); allotment in newly constructed market complex; District Commissioner Kokrajhar enquiry affidavit paragraph 5(e); interim status quo 04.12.2024; no-demolition interim order 05.04.2025; Coordinate Bench survey direction 13.06.2025; Bogoribari/Bagribari Parbatjhora Kokrajhar BTR Assam; WP(C)/6437/2024; WP(C)/953/2025; Justice Devashis Baruah; Gauhati High Court.
What did the court decide?
Both writ petitions disposed with observations and directions: respondent authorities permitted to carry out construction (including any required demolition) for tourist facilities at Mahamaya Temple; genuine shopkeepers who shift/relocate or whose shops are demolished to be accommodated in the new market complex per the paragraph 5(e) undertaking; other petitioners flagged as not genuine may submit representations with documents proving permission-based shop establishment and rent payment to the Mahamaya Mandir Managing Committee till December 2023 to respondent No.3 (District Commissioner, Kokrajhar) and the Committee, and if successful are to be treated similarly situated with genuine shopkeepers and provided allotment in the proposed new market complex.