Gauhati HC Orders State Govt to Provide Compensation for Illegal Demolition

The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to provide compensation to Rashida Khatun, the wife of the deceased Safiqul Islam, whose house was illegally demolished by the administration in Nagaon district.

Rashida Khatun’s house, along with those of six other families, was demolished by the administration in Batadrava, Nagaon district, following an arson attack on the local police station in 2022. The court was hearing a Suo Motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the matter.

N.K. Sarma, the petitioner’s counsel, informed the court that while compensation had been awarded to six other families whose houses were demolished, Rashida Khatun had yet to receive any compensation.

An affidavit submitted to the Gauhati High Court revealed that a compensation of Rs 12 lakh had been provided by the government to each of the two families whose homes were constructed of reinforced concrete. The four families residing in non-concrete structures received Rs 2.5 lakh each.

Senior Advocate D. Nath, appearing for the State government, assured the court that the compensation amount had already been sanctioned by the Home Department and would be released to Rashida Khatun within the next two weeks.

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