Page No.# 1/5 GAHC010016902026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : PIL/7/2026 SIDDIQUE AHMED S/O LATE ABDUL RAKIB, R/O NAGARIA, P.O.- BAROIGRAM, P.S.- PATHARKANDI, DISTRICT- SRIBHUMI, ASSAM. PIN- 788723 2: THE UNION OF INDIA AND ORS THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF HOME GOVT. OF INDIA NEW DELHI-11000 VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA AND 9 ORS. THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF HOME, GOVT. OF INDIA, NEW DELHI-110001 2:THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS GOVT. OF INDIA NEW DELHI-110001 3:THE STATE OF ASSAM REPRESENTED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT GOVT. OF ASSAM DISPUR GUWAHATI-06 4:THE COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE (LR) DEPTT. GOVT. OF ASSAM DISPUR GUWAHATI-06 5:THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER SRIBHUMI DIST- SRIBHUMI Page No.# 2/5 ASSAM PIN-788710 6:THE CIRCLE OFFICER NILAMBAZAR REVENUE CIRCLE P.O.- NILAMBAZAR DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM PIN-788722 7:THE DISTRICT AGRICULTURE OFFICER SRIBHUMI DIST- SRIBHUMI ASSAM PIN-788710 8:THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA DWARKA NEW DELHI-110075 9:THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED PARLIAMENT STREET SANSAD MARG AREA NEW DELHI-110001 10:THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER (P) NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITE PESKAR LANE SONAI ROAD KANAKPUR PART-I SILCHAR ASSAM PIN-78800 For the appellant/petitioner(s) : Mr. M. A. Islam, Advocate For the Respondent(s) : Ms. S. Sarma, GA, Assam Mr. R. Boro, Advocate Mr. R. K. Talukdar, Advocate Mr. S. K. Chouhan, Advocate Ms. N. Bordoloi, SC, Revenue Page No.# 3/5 – B E F O R E – HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. ASHUTOSH KUMAR HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY 11.02.2026 (Ashutosh Kumar, CJ) We have heard Mr. M. A. Islam, learned Advocate for the petitioner and Ms. S. Sarma, learned Government Advocate, Assam; Ms. N. Bordoloi, learned Standing Counsel, Revenue; Mr. R. K. Talukdar, Mr. R. Boro and Mr. S. K. Chouhan, learned Advocates for the respondents. The petitioner is an MLA from South Karimganj Constituency in Assam and a former Minister, who has flagged an issue of large-scale corruption and manipulation in the land records relating to acquisition of lands for a Four-Lane highway project in Karimganj District (now Shribhumi District) under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. The contention of the petitioner is that the project was approved by the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways for construction of 109 Km. Road connecting Ramnagar in Cachar to Churaibari in Karimganj. This project was initiated for boosting connectivity in rural and border areas of Northeast India, linking State capitals and multi-modal waterways for economic development. The allegation of the petitioner is that after the approval of the project and initial surveys, unscrupulous landowners and third parties managed to get the land records manipulated and the lands re- classified as industrial/ commercial lands for claiming higher compensation against the acquisition. The petitioner also alleges that some of the reclassifications were Page No.# 4/5 done post-notification of acquisition, which ultimately had led to loss of crores of public money. The further allegation is that the news with respect to the land acquisition had leaked and some unscrupulous land owners, with their machinations and with the help of government authorities, managed to get their lands re-classified as industrial/commercial lands. Such complaints were made by the petitioner before the authorities, but to no avail. The petitioner claims that there is an unholy nexus between the vested interest; land revenue officials, District Commissioners, CALA (Competent Authority for Land Acquisition) and the Arbitrator, warranting independent probe by the CBI to uncover the corruption and to prevent further misuse of public funds. The allegations made in this PIL are too general and omnibus with vague generalizations. There can be no gainsaying that the Bharatmala Project was initiated with the laudable object of linking the various district towns and multi-modal waterways for reaching out to the people and making the Northeast India more accessible. There does not but appear to be any complaint from the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, or from any quarter regarding any faulty re-classification of lands. It appears that the lands have been acquired and most of the compensation has been paid. Even the project is nearing completion. For the lack of the details with regard to the corrupt practices or the concerted machinations of the government authorities, we find it unsafe Page No.# 5/5 to rely on such averments made in this PIL petition. Finding the allegations made in this PIL to be absolutely general and omnibus, without any specific details, we are left with no alternative but to dismiss this petition. Dismissed. JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE Comparing Assistant