Gauhati High Court seeks clarification on rehabilitation for evicted people in Assam

Justice Devashis Barua issued an order on September 7 to various government departments to record their views on the rehabilitation and compensation claim of the 76 petitioners by October 6 through affidavits. File | Photo credit: Special arrangement

The Gauhati High Court has asked the Assam government to clarify the provision of rehabilitation and compensation to people displaced during the September 2024 eviction.

Kamrup Metropolitan District authorities conducted an eviction drive at Kachutoli in Sonapur area, about 20 km east of Guwahati, to clear 100 bighas of notified tribal land. The evicted were mostly migrant Bengali Muslims.

In an order dated September 7, Justice Devashis Barua gave various government ministries to record their views through October 6 through affidavits on the plea for rehabilitation and compensation of the 76 claimants.

The petitioners represent some of the 650 families, comprising about 2,000 people, who were evicted from September 23 to 25, 2024, their lawyer Zunaid Khalid said.

The court observed that the petitioners, after being “evictioned from employment”, are staying on private patta land (property whose ownership is officially recorded) without receiving any rehabilitation or compensation.

The evictions in Kachutoli began on 9 September 2024. Displaced villagers reoccupied the land three days later, sparking tensions.

The authorities resumed the demolition drive. Villagers protested and two people – Haider Ali and Jubahir Ali – were killed in police firing, while 33 others, including government and police officials, were injured.

The local government conducted the final eviction drive until September 25.

Published – 11 Sep 2026 03:32 IST