The Gauhati High Court has ordered the state government toevict all non-tribal people possessing lands in the protected tribalbelts/blocks of the State.

This order has been pronounced recently by a two-judgebench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and JusticeAchintya Malla Bujor Barua in connection with a PIL (Public InterestLitigation) (78/2012).

The Court asked the deputy commissioners of a number ofdistricts and the Principal Secretary of the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council)to file their personal affidavits with regard to the action taken for removalof illegal encroachments from the protected areas by February 3, 2020.

The order has been issued to the deputy commissioners ofBongaigaon, Kamrup (M), Morigaon, Sonitpur and Tinsukia, besides the PrincipalSecretary of the BTC that has under it four districts – Kokrajhar, Chirang,Baksa and Udalguri.

If appropriate steps are not taken to give effect to the order, the court may consider costs, which the officers responsible for causing delay in the process of the Court will have to cough up from their salaries.