Page No.# 1/27 GAHC010232822025 2025:GAU-AS:14417 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/6073/2025 MAYAJUDDIN AND 86 ORS S/O- JULUMUDDIN, PERMANENT R/O- VILL DUBAPARA, LUPTACHAR, DUBAPARA, PO- DUBAPARA, PS MORNAI, PIN- 783101, DIST.- GOALPARA, ASSAM 2: NIJAM ALI S/O ABDUS PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 3: ABDUL KARIM S/O MOTIYAR RAHMAN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 4: ABDUR RASHID S/O AMJAD ALI TALUKDAR PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARALUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 Page No.# 2/27 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 5: HUNAFA KHATUN W/O SAMSUL HOQUE PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARALUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 6: ABUL HUCHAIN S/O RASTAM ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 7: ALALUDDIN S/O FAYJUDDIN SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 8: AJET ALI S/O ABDUR RAHMAN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAKHIURA NC P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 9: INCHAN ALI S/O AIBALI SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF Page No.# 3/27 VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 10: ROKIBUL ISLAM S/O JAYANUDDIN MIYAH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- GOALPARA WARD NO. 13 P.O.- GOALPARA P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 11: ABBAS ALI S/O BAKAMIAH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 12: RAJIBUL ISLAM S/O JAFOR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAKHIURA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 13: JAYFULNESSA W/O SURMAN ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA Page No.# 4/27 ASSAM 14: MONOWARA KHATUN W/O TOYMUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA MOUKHOWA CHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 15: MAYAMANA KHATUN S/O RAJAB ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- RAKHYASINI PAHAR P.O.- RAKHYASINI P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 16: AHED ALI S/O RAJAB ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAKHIURA NC P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 17: SOMEJUDDIN S/O RIYAZUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 18: KULCHUN BEWA W/O KURPAN SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BASANTPUR NC Page No.# 5/27 P.O.- BASANTPUR P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783125 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 19: KADER ALI S/O HASEM ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- RAKHYASINI GAROPARA PT. 2 P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 20: AJIRAN NESSA W/O ASHAN ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- KHARMUJA P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 21: JOMER ALI S/O SUKUR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DAHIKATA RAJAPARA P.S.- MARNAI PIN- 783133 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 22: ANAR ALI S/O JABED ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BASANTPUR NC P.O.- BASANTPUR P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783125 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 23: ABDUR REJJAK S/O AMJAD ALI TALUKDAR PERMANENT RESIDENT OF Page No.# 6/27 VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 24: JAHANARA KHATUN W/O MUJAFAR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 25: FATANI KHATUN W/O ROFIKUL ISLAM PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 26: JAHEDAKHATUN W/O ROFIKUL ISLAM PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 27: ABDULLAH S/O SAMESH ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI Page No.# 7/27 PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 28: BAHARUL ISLAM S/O CHAHEB ALI SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 29: SAMESH ALI S/O MATIBAR RAHMAN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 30: REZZAQUE ALI S/O SATTAR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- RAKHYASINI JHAR PT. 1 DUBAPARA P.O.- ROKHYASINI P.S.- MATIA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 31: TULEB ALI S/O MAJAM ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM Page No.# 8/27 32: BAREK ALI S/O JABED ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BASANTPUR NC P.O.- DALGOMA P.S.- MATIA PIN- 783125 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 33: MAYNUDDIN S/O JULUMUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 34: GOLAM HUCHAIN S/O HANIF ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 35: SOLEMAN ALI S/O HASEM ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- RAKHYASINI GAROPARA PT. 2 P.O.- RAKHYASINI P.S.- MATIA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 36: AMZAD ALI S/O ABDUL SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DAROGAR ALGA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- GOALPARA RPS Page No.# 9/27 PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 37: JABED ALI S/O TALEP ALI MUNSI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 38: NAYTUN NESSA W/O DUYKHA SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 39: ARFAN ALI S/O SHUIKA PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 40: SAYED ALI S/O ANSER ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BADALMARI CHAR PT. 3 P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 41: MOTALEB HUCHAIN Page No.# 10/27 S/O RAHIJUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 42: ALKIMA KHATUN W/O MOFIDUL ISLAM PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 43: SHUKUR ALI S/O ALAFU SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 44: ABDUL AWAL S/O SOBAHAN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 45: JAMAL SHEIKH S/O RAHAMAT ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAHARSING PARA P.O.- GOALPARA Page No.# 11/27 P.S.- MARNOI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 46: SOFIKUL ISLAM S/O SAMSUL HOQUE PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 47: ACHER UDDIN S/O MONSER ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 48: JEL HAQUE S/O JANGSER ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 49: CHALIMAN NESSA W/O RAMJAN ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM Page No.# 12/27 50: ISMAIL S/O A BARIK PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- CHAJACHIMANA P.O.- CHAJACHIMANA P.S.- ALUPOTI PIN- 781308 DIST- BARPETA ASSAM 51: HAFIJUL ISLAM S/O ABDUL AWAL PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 52: OMAR ALI S/O ABU BAHAR PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 53: ALI MOHHAMAD S/O RAHIJUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 54: MOMIRON NESSA W/O SAMCHUL HOQUE PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR Page No.# 13/27 DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 55: AMELA KHATUN W/O JAHIRUL ISLAM PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- RAKHYASINI UTTARPAR P.O.- GOALPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783125 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 56: CHALEMAN ALI S/O MAJER ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BHATIAPARA P.O.- GOALPARA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 57: ROFIQUL ISLAM S/O SAMSUL HOQUE PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 58: NABIRAN NESSA W/O AKBAR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- TINIKONIAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 59: ABDUL BAREK Page No.# 14/27 S/O MUSLIM UDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 60: SANIDUR HOQUE S/O ABDUL AWAL PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 61: ANAR HUSSAIN S/O MOHHAMAD ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAKHIURA DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783125 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 62: MONOWARA KHATUN W/O BAKAMIYA PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 63: AYENUDDIN S/O ABDUL KARIM PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA Page No.# 15/27 P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 64: JAYNUDDIN S/O JULUMUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 65: KODHBHANUNESSA W/O KUDDUS ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- RAKHYASINIJHAT PT. 1 P.O.- RAKHYASINI P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 66: JUL HOQUE S/O BAKKAR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 67: ABDUR RAHIM S/O SIDDIQUE ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DAROGAR ALGA P.O.- GOALPARA P.S.- GOALPARA RPS PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM Page No.# 16/27 68: RAHAM ALI S/O ARFAN ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 69: JABEDUR RAHMAN S/O TAHEZUDDIN SHEIKH PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BHALUKDUBI P.O.- GOALPARA P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 70: JAYNALABDIN S/O KURAN ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 71: ASHRAB ALI S/O RAHIMUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 72: RUMIYA KHATUN W/O MOJAMMAL ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA Page No.# 17/27 P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 73: NURHUSSAIN ALI S/O TAMACHER ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 74: MONOWAR ALI S/O NURHUSSAIN ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- BHATIAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 75: HANIF ALI S/O ABDUS SALAM PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 76: ALAM SHEIKH S/O SANDESH ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM Page No.# 18/27 77: MAYNAL HOQUE S/O RAHIMUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 78: ROFIKUL ISLAM S/O JAFAR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAKHIURA NC P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 79: ISMAIL HUSSAIN S/O KHODABAKS PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 80: MONOWAR ALI S/O NURIMAN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- PAKHIURA NC P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- GOALPARA PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 81: CHAYED ALI S/O JAMER ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA Page No.# 19/27 P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 82: ATOWAR RAHMAN S/O ABUL HUSSAIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 83: ATOWAR RAHMAN S/O ROHIMUDDIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 84: SARIJUN NESSA W/O DELUBAR HUSSAIN PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DEODHUACHAR P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 85: OMOR ALI S/O NAJAR ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM Page No.# 20/27 86: NUR ISLAM S/O ADHU MANDAL PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSAM 87: AJIBAR ALI S/O LIYAKAT ALI PERMANENT RESIDENT OF VILL- DUBAPARA LUPTACHAR DUBAPARA P.O.- DUBAPARA P.S.- MORNAI PIN- 783101 DIST- GOALPARA ASSA VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 2 ORS REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, ASSAM SECRETARIAT, DISPUR, GHY- 06 2:THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER GOALPARA ASSAM 3:THE DIVISIONAL FOREST OFFICER GOALPARA FOREST DIVISION GOALPARA ASSA Advocate for the Petitioner : MS. T SOM, MS. U HAZARIKA,MR. R P SARMAH Advocate for the Respondent : SC, REVENUE, SC, FOREST,GA, ASSAM Page No.# 21/27 BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MANISH CHOUDHURY ORDER Date : 28-10-2025 Heard Mr. R.P. Sarmah, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Ms. T. Som, learned counsel for the petitioners; Ms. P.R. Mahanta, learned Standing Counsel, Revenue Department for the respondent no. 1; Mr. S.S. Roy, learned Junior Government Advocate, Assam for the respondent no. 2; and Mr. D. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department for the respondent no. 3. 2. The petitioners, 87 [eighty seven] in nos., have joined together to institute the present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to assail a set of Notices, issued to them, on 07.10.2025 under Issue no. 3180 by the respondent no. 3. 3. The common case of the petitioners, in brief, is that they have been residing in Dasobhuja for more than 40-50 years and they have all the relevant documents pertaining to the parcels of land on which they are living. The petitioners have stated that they are shocked and surprised to be served with the Notice dated 07.10.2025 under the hand of the respondent no. 3. In the Notice, it is mentioned that the petitioners are in unauthorised occupation of lands falling within the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest and while in unauthorised occupation of the reserved forest lands, they have constructed houses, planted commercial vegetation, dug ponds, cut trees and plants, etc. inside the reserved forest areas and made conversion of forest lands for agricultural purposes. The Notice further mentioned that such activities are prohibited and illegal as per the provisions of Section 24 and Section 25 of the Page No.# 22/27 Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, as amended. By the Notice, the petitioners have been asked to submit their claims/representations along with the supporting documents, if any, in justification of their possession of the parcels of land inside the declared boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest. 4. The petitioners have stated that they, by no means, can be termed as illegal encroachers of forest lands as they have been living in the area for the past 40-50 years after constructing their dwelling houses and obtaining electricity connection, etc. It has been projected that if they are evicted pursuant to the impugned Notice dated 07.10.2025, they would be rendered homeless in the absence of any alternative provision made by the respondent authorities for their rehabilitation. 5. Mr. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department has placed a Gazette Notification dated 05.04.1973 issued in exercise of powers conferred by Section 17 of the Assam Forest Regulation. As per the Notification, an area of land measuring 1685.05 hectares [approx.] within Goalpara Sub-Division, District – Goalpara was declared as a reserved forest by the name, Dahikata Reserved Forest. The Notification further provided the description of the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest. 6. Under the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, the State Government in exercise of the powers under Section 4 can constitute any land under disposal of the Government as a reserved forest in the manner thereafter provided. As per Section 5, whenever it is proposed to constitute any land a reserved forest, the State Government shall publish a notification in the Official Gazette inter alia Page No.# 23/27 specifying as nearly as possible the situation and limits of such land and declaring that it is proposed to constitute such land a reserved forest. Section 7 of the Assam Forest Regulation has provided for a bar of accrual of forest rights after proclamation by the Forest Settlement Officer. Finally after completion of enquiry, a Notification under Section 17 of the Assam Forest Regulation is published constituting the land as reserved forest. A Notification under Section 17 is made after consideration of all claims by the Forest Settlement Officer. Once a notification under Section 17 is published in the Official Gazette specifying the limits of the forest which it is intending to reserve and declaring the same to be reserved from a date of such notification, the rights in respect of which no claim has been preferred under Section 6 stands extinguished as per the provisions of Section 18 of the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. After declaration of reserved forest, the acts delineated in Section 24 and Section 25 of the Assam Forest Regulation are prohibited. 7. Going by the date of the Gazette Notification, 05.04.1973, the petitioners who claim to be living in the area for 40-50 years, are prima facie in unauthorised occupation if the parcels of land which are under their occupation fall within the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest. Though the petitioners have stated that they have valid claims in respect of the parcels of land under their occupation, they have not annexed any such supporting documents in this writ petition in support of their claim. Be that as it may, the Notice dated 07.10.2025 had provided for submission of any claim /representation along with supporting documents, if any, by the noticees in justification of their possession over the alleged land inside the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest. Page No.# 24/27 8. Mr. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department has submitted that if any noticee produces any valid land documents like periodic patta, etc. in justification of the parcel of land under their possession, the claim of such noticee will be given due consideration and if the parcel of land of any such noticee is found located beyond the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest, the eviction exercise is not going to be undertaken in such situation against such noticee. He has submitted that prior to issuance of the Notice on 07.10.2025, a joint survey was undertaken and it was only after ascertaining the co-ordinates of Dahikata Reserved Forest, the Notice dated 07.10.2025 has been issued to those persons who are found encroaching lands inside the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest. 9. Mr. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department has further placed copies of the Orders passed by the Division Bench of this Court in PIL [Suo Moto] no. 1 of 2022, Writ Appeal no. 251/2025 and Writ Appeal no. 252/2025 to buttress his submission that the procedure contemplated by the Notice dated 07.10.2025 is in conformity with the directions made by the Division Bench in those cases. 10. The appellants in Writ Appeal no. 251/2025 and Writ Appeal no. 252/2025 challenged a notice dated 24.07.2025 issued to them whereby they were asked to vacate the forest land within seven days. The appellants took a stand that they were residing in the houses constructed since long. While disposing of the writ appeals by the Order dated 18.08.2025, the Division Bench has observed that henceforth if any eviction drive is undertaken for clearing the reserved forest area of all encroachments and if it is found that there are some settlers, Page No.# 25/27 even though unauthorised, they have to be given a reasonable period of time of 15 days, to explain under what circumstances they have set up their residence inside the reserved forest area where any non-forest activity or their presence attracts penal offence, and further period of 15 days for exiting the place on being asked to do so. The Division Bench has further observed that notwithstanding the fact that no procedure has been delineated, it would be only in the interest of justice that a notice of 15 days and a further time of 15 days be given to such squatters/encroachers to leave the reserved forest area. 11. When in the context of the above observations made by the Division Bench, the contents of the impugned Notice issued on 07.10.2025 and the time- period given to the petitioners in the case in hand are considered, it is found that the Notice dated 07.10.2025 is in conformity with the above observations. The petitioners were given 15 days’ time to submit their claims/representations, if any, along with all the supporting documents, if any, in justification of their occupation of the forest land. The Notice has further provided for 15 days’ time to vacate the forest land within the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest if the noticees are found in unauthorised occupation of the same. 12. Mr. Sarmah, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners has submitted that some of the petitioners have already submitted their claims/representations along with the supporting documents in justification of the parcels of land under their occupation. He has further submitted that some of the petitioners are yet to submit their claims/representations in response to the Notice dated 07.10.2025 and as the period of 15 days since 07.10.2025 has elapsed in the meantime, the remaining petitioners may be allowed further 1 [one] week’s Page No.# 26/27 time to submit their respective representation along with the supporting documents in justification of the parcels of land under their occupation. 13. Mr. Gogoi, learned Standing Counsel, Forest Department has submitted that the remaining petitioners can be allowed to submit their representations within a period of 7 [seven] days from today, that is, up to 04.11.2025 before the respondent no. 3. This Court is of the view that the remaining petitioners who have not yet filed their representations, shall be allowed to file their representations on or before 04.11.2025. It is ordered accordingly. 14. It is observed that if any representation is received from any of the noticees/petitioners herein by the respondent no. 3, the respondent no. 3 shall examine such representations and the supporting documents in justification of the parcels of land he/she is in occupation. The order so passed by the respondent no. 3 shall be communicated to the petitioners/representationists forthwith thereafter. The respondent no. 3 shall examine whether the parcels of land under the occupation of the noticees/petitioners fall inside or outside the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest declared by the Notification dated 05.04.1973. It is further observed that if any parcel of land under the occupation of any noticee/petitioner is found outside the boundaries of the Dahikata Reserved Forest, no eviction exercise, as contemplated in the Notice dated 07.10.2025, shall be undertaken by the respondent no. 3. It is further observed that if the parcels of land under the occupation of the noticees/petitioners are found inside the boundaries of Dahikata Reserved Forest, then the respondent no. 3 shall carry out the exercise to clear the Dahikata Reserved Forest areas in accordance with law and as per due Page No.# 27/27 procedure. 15. With the observations made and directions given above, the writ petition is disposed of. No cost. JUDGE Comparing Assistant