Page No.# 1/20 GAHC010171442023 2026:GAU-AS:8104 THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : WP(C)/4667/2023 HANNAN ALI AND 16 ORS MUSLIM UDDIN RO VILL- BECHIMARI PO- SILBORI MOUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG, ASSAM PIN 711045. 2: SEIKH ABDULLAH SO- SAMED ALI RO VILL - BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI PS- DALGAON MAUZA - PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT - DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784114 3: HAZARAT ALI SO- NUR ALI RO VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI MAUZA-PUB SIALMARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT - DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114 4: SAFIQUL ISLAM SO ABDUL HAI RO VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O- SILBORI PS- DALGAON Page No.# 2/20 MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784114. 5: LUKMAN KAJEE SO- ABDUL HAMID RO VILL-BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI PS- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM 6: MUKTAR HUSSAIN SO- JALAL UDDIN RO VILL - BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MOUZA -PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 7: SADIQUL ISLAM SO- HUSSAIN ALI RO VILL - BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MOUZA -PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 8: MUZAMMEL HOQUE SO- ABDUL HASHEN RO VILL- SILBORI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 9: SIRAJUL HOQUE SO- SAMIR UDDIN RO VILL- NALBARI P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON Page No.# 3/20 MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784114. 10: ABDUL RUP SO - FAIJUDDIN RO VILL- KOPATI P.O- SILBARI MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 11: AMINUL HOQUE SO- HAMIDUL HOQUE RO VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBARI MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI PS- DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 12: ABDUL HASAEN SO- JANUR UDDIN RO VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 13: HUSSAIN ALI AHMED SO- NAJAR ALI RO VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 14: DALU SEIKH SO ABDUL LATIF RO VILL- BECHIMARI Page No.# 4/20 P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 15: ABDUL WAHID SO ABDUL LATIF RO VILL-KOPATIGAON PO SILBORI MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 16: IKBAL HUSSAIN SO SABDAR ALI RO VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI PS- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN-784114. 17: NUR ISLAM SO KHURSAD ALI RO VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBARI PS- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG ASSAM PIN- 784114 VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL COMMISSIONER AND SPL SECRETARY TO THE GOVT OF ASSAM PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING AND NH DEPT BLOCK B, GROUND FLOOR, ASSAM SECRETARIAT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI 781006 2:DISTRICT LEVEL LAND PURCHASE COMMITTEE Page No.# 5/20 DARRANG REPRESENTED BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY ADDL. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER REVENUE DARRANG ASSAM. 3:DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DARRANG CUM CHAIRMAN DISTRICT LEVEL LAND PURCHASE COMMITTEE DARRANG ASSAM. 4:CIRLCE OFFICER DALGAON REVENUE CIRCLE DARRANG ASSAM. 5:THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PUBLIC WORKS ROAD DEPARTMENT DARRANG ASSAM Advocate for the Petitioner : MD. M H CHOUDHURY, MR. S N AHMED,MR MONZUR K CHOUDHURY,MR. P CHAKRABORTY,R. BARUAH,TANZIM L. CHOUDHURY Advocate for the Respondent : GA, ASSAM, SC, PWD Linked Case : WP(C)/4560/2023 SUDIP CHANDRA MODAK AND 22 ORS S/O- LT. BIJOY KRISHNA MODAK R/O VILL- BARJHAR GRANT P.O- BARJHAR BAZAR MOUZA- PUB DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) 2: MANIRUJ JAMAN KHALIFA S/O- ATAUR RAHMA R/O VILL - SILBARI Page No.# 6/20 P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA - PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. 3: NASIR UDDIN AHMED S/O- LT. AMZAD ALI R/O VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBORI MAUZA-PUB SIALMARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT - DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114 4: JANIFUL ISLAM S/O IMAN ALI R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 5: FOZAR ALI S/O- LT. TAYAB ALI R/O VILL-SILBORI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 6: FAROOQUE AHMED S/O- LT. MUSLIM UDDIN R/O VILL - SILBORI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 7: PRADIP CHANDRA MODAK S/O- BIJOY KRISHNA MODAK R/O VILL- BARJHAR GRANT P.O- ORANG DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) Page No.# 7/20 PIN- 784114. 8: JIAUDDIN YUSUF S/O- JAINAL ABEDIN R/O VILL- SILBORI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SILAMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 9: REJAUDDIN YUSUF S/O- JAINAL ABEDIN R/O VILL- SILBORI P.O- SILBORI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SILAMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 10: KHAIRUL ISLAM S/O -LT. HUSSAIN ALI R/O VILL- BECHIMARI P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 11: WASIM AKRAM MAHMOD S/O- SAMSUDDIN AHMED R/O VILL- SILBARI P.O- SILBARI MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 12: ABU BAKKAR SIDDIQUE S/O-LT. ABDUL GOFUR R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 13: AMIR HUSSAIN S/O- LT. ABDUL GOFUR Page No.# 8/20 R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 14: SHAHJAHAN ALI S/O AMIR HUSSAIN R/O VILL-UDALGURI HEPATIGAON P.O- DHANSIRI BAZAR MAUZA- ORANG DISTRICT- UDALGURI (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 15: IMRAN HUSSAIN S/O LT. EUNUS ALI R/O VILL- NO. 3 DARRANG BAZAR P.O BARJHAR BAZAR MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI P.S- DALGAON DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 16: BAHARUL ISLAM S/O AFIZAL HOQUE KHALIFA R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SILAMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN-784114. 17: NAJRUL ISLAM S/O AFIZAL HOQUE KHALIFA R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA- PUB SILAMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. 18: JALAL UDDIN S/O- LT. ABDUL KUDDUS R/O VILL- KACHARIVETITOP Page No.# 9/20 P.O- ORANG MAUZA- ORANG DISTRICT- UDALGURI PIN- 784114. 19: JAKARIA HOQU S/O- LT. NURUL HOQUE R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA-PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. 20: ATIKUL ISLAM S/O- LT. NIZAMUDDIN R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA-PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. 21: NAZIMUDDIN S/O- LT. MOHAMMAD ALI R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA-PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. 22: ASHIQUE MURTAZA AHMED S/O- LT. SAMSUL HOQUE R/O VILL- KOPATIGAON P.O SILBARI P.S- DALGAON MAUZA-PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. 23: ZAYED RABBUL KHALIFA S/O- BAHARUL ISLAM R/O VILL- SILBARI P.O- SILBARI P.S- DALGAON Page No.# 10/20 MAUZA- PUB SIALMARI DISTRICT- DARRANG (ASSAM) PIN- 784114. VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS REPRESENTED BY SPECIAL COMMISSIONER AND SPL. SECRETARY TO THE GOVT. OF ASSAM PUBLIC WORKS (B AND NH) DEPTT. BLOCK-B GROUND FLOOR ASSAM SECRETARIAT DISPUR GUWAHATI- 781006. 2:DISTRICT LEVEL LAND PURCHASE COMMITTEE DARRANG REPRESENTED BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY (ADDL. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER (REVENUE)) DARRANG ASSAM. 3:DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DARRANG CUM CHAIRMAN DISTRICT LAND PURCHASE COMMITTEE DARRANG ASSAM. 4:CIRCLE OFFICER DALGAON REVENUE CIRCLE DARRANG ASSAM. 5:THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PUBLIC WORKS ROAD DEPARTMENT DARRANG ASSAM. ------------ Advocate for : MD. M H CHOUDHURY Advocate for : SC PWD appearing for THE STATE OF ASSAM AND 4 ORS Page No.# 11/20 :::BEFORE::: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE KARDAK ETE Date on which judgment is reserved : N/A Date of pronouncement of judgment : 09.06.2026 Whether the pronouncement is of the Operative part of the judgment : N/A Whether the full judgment has been Pronounced : Yes Judgment & Order (Oral) Heard Mr. M. K. Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. P. Nayak, learned Additional Advocate General for the respondent Nos. 1 & 5 and Mr. B. J. Talukdar, learned Government Advocate for the State respondent Nos. 2, 3 & 4. 2. Having regard to the similitude of the issues involved in these two writ petitions, the same are heard analogously and disposed of by this common judgment and order. 3. By filing the present writ petitions, the petitioners, who are shopkeepers, have prayed for a direction to the respondent authorities to assess and pay compensation under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the “RFCTLARR Act, 2013”), on account of Page No.# 12/20 demolition/removal of their respective shop structures situated at Silbori Market (Silbori Gaon Panchayat Office Compound) and Silbori Daily Market, under Pub- Sialmari Mouza, Dalgaon Revenue Circle, District Darrang, for widening and upgradation of the Dalgaon-Fatasimulu Road under the Asom Mala Project. In the alternative, the petitioners have prayed for a direction to the respondent authorities to dispose of the representation dated 12.06.2023 claiming compensation for the losses sustained by them on account of such demolition. 4. The case projected by the petitioners in both the writ petitions is that they have been carrying on their respective businesses for more than two decades from pucca RCC shop structures situated at Silbori Market (Silbori Gaon Panchayat Office Compound) and Silbori Daily Market under Pub-Sialmari Mouza, Dalgaon Revenue Circle, District Darrang. According to the petitioners, the said shops constituted their sole source of livelihood and had been constructed by them from their own resources. 5. The petitioners contend that the Government of Assam, Public Works (Roads) Department issued a notification dated 20.01.2021, published in the Assam Gazette on 22.01.2021, providing for acquisition of land through direct purchase by way of negotiated settlement for improvement and upgradation of State Highways and Major District Roads under the Asom Mala Programme and Externally Aided Projects. According to the petitioners, the said notification envisaged payment of compensation to affected families in terms of the provisions of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. 6. It is the case of the petitioners that pursuant to the aforesaid notification and for the project, the respondent authorities undertook measurement of lands, structures and commercial establishments situated alongside the Page No.# 13/20 Dalgaon-Fatasimulu Road and, thereafter, demolished the shops belonging to the petitioners for widening and development of the road. According to the petitioners, prior to such demolition, assurances were given by the authorities that compensation would be paid to all affected persons. 7. The petitioners further contend that although compensation has been paid to several persons whose lands, houses and commercial establishments were affected by the same project, no compensation has been paid to the petitioners despite demolition of their shop structures. The petitioners rely upon trade licences, permits, certificates issued by the Gaon Buras and other supporting documents to substantiate their claim that they had been carrying on business in the respective market areas with the permission of the competent authorities. 8. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioners submitted representation dated 12.06.2023 before the Deputy Commissioner, Darrang, seeking payment of compensation in respect of the demolished shop structures. However, according to the petitioners, neither any compensation has been paid nor have the said representation been considered till date. 9. Mr. M. K. Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that although the petitioners are not the owners of the land on which the shops were situated, they are nevertheless entitled to compensation and rehabilitation benefits under the provisions of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. Referring to Section 46(1) read with Section 3(c) and Schedule II of the said Act, learned counsel submits that the petitioners are small traders who had been carrying on business in the respective market areas for several years and whose shops constituted their primary source of livelihood. It is contended that, on account of the demolition of the said shops for the implementation of the road widening Page No.# 14/20 project under the Asom Mala Programme, the petitioners fall within the category of affected families and are consequently entitled to compensation and other attendant benefits envisaged under the Act. 10. Learned counsel submits that the petitioners had been carrying on their businesses from the respective market areas upon being permitted by the competent authorities and had constructed the shop structures from their own resources. It is submitted that after having undertaken measurement of the structures and demolished the same for implementation of the project, the respondent authorities cannot deny compensation to the petitioners. 11. It is further submitted that similarly situated persons affected by the same project have already been paid compensation and, therefore, denial of similar benefits to the petitioners is arbitrary and discriminatory. Learned counsel accordingly submits that appropriate directions may be issued to the respondent authorities to assess the losses suffered by the petitioners and grant compensation in accordance with the provisions of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. 12. Per contra, Mr. P. Nayak, learned Additional Advocate General, Assam, appearing for the respondent PWD, submits that the claim made by the petitioners is wholly misconceived and is not supported either by the provisions of the Gazette Notification dated 20.01.2021 or by the scheme formulated thereunder for acquisition of land through direct purchase by way of negotiated settlement. 13. Referring to the affidavits filed on behalf of the respondent authorities, learned Additional Advocate General submits that pursuant to the Gazette Notification dated 20.01.2021, the District Level Land Purchase Committee Page No.# 15/20 (DLLPC), Darrang was duly constituted and necessary notices were published in newspapers inviting claims from interested persons in connection with the acquisition process undertaken for improvement and upgradation of the Dalgaon-Fatasimulu Road under the Asom Mala Programme. 14. Learned Additional Advocate General submits that compensation under the scheme was paid only to the patta land holders whose lands were acquired through the negotiated settlement process. According to him, the petitioners admittedly do not possess any right, title or interest over the land on which the shop structures were standing and the said structures were situated on Government land. It is submitted that neither the Gazette Notification dated 20.01.2021 nor the scheme framed thereunder contains any provision for payment of compensation in respect of structures raised on Government land by persons having no proprietary right over the land. 15. It is further submitted that since the petitioners were not entitled to compensation under the applicable scheme, no assessment of their structures was undertaken by the DLLPC, Darrang and no compensation was paid to any person occupying Government land. Learned Additional Advocate General submits that the petitioners cannot claim parity with patta land holders who were compensated in accordance with the provisions governing the acquisition process. 16. Learned Additional Advocate General submits that the representation submitted by the petitioners were duly considered by the authorities and the same were not found to be sustainable in law. It is, therefore, submitted that no interference is called for in the present writ petitions. Page No.# 16/20 17. Mr. B. J. Talukdar, learned State Counsel appearing for the State respondents, adopts the submissions advanced by the learned Additional Advocate General and submits that the project in question has been implemented strictly in terms of the Gazette Notification dated 20.01.2021 and the procedure prescribed thereunder. He accordingly submits that the writ petitions being devoid of merit are liable to be dismissed. 18. I have heard the submissions advanced by the learned counsel for the parties and have also perused the materials available on record. 19. The admitted factual position which emerges is that the petitioners are shopkeepers who were carrying on business from structures situated on Government land within Silbori Market and Silbori Daily Market and the said structures were removed for the purpose of widening and upgradation of Dalgaon-Fatasimulu Road under the Asom Mala Project. 20. The State of Assam through the Public Works Roads (Development A-1 Branch) Department issued a notification dated 20.01.2021 providing for acquisition of land through direct purchase by way of negotiated settlement for improvement and upgradation of State Highways and Major District Roads under the Asom Mala Programme, a flagship programme of the State and Externally Aided Projects. The notification was issued having regard to the necessity of expeditious land acquisition for implementation of infrastructure projects and provides for a mechanism of direct purchase by way of negotiated settlement instead of resorting, in the first instance, to the regular acquisition procedure under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. 21. The scheme under the notification provides for submission of requisition by Page No.# 17/20 the requisitioning department to the Deputy Commissioner, constitution of a District Level Land Purchase Committee, joint inspection and measurement of land and immovable properties, issuance of general notice, identification and preparation of list of landowners, publication of the list inviting objections, preparation of valuation of land and assets, fixation of price, negotiation, execution of agreement in prescribed forms, payment of negotiated price, and transfer of land to the requisitioning agency. The notification also provides that agreements may be executed with landowners as well as interested persons other than landowners, if any, and that non-title holders may be considered for rehabilitation and resettlement entitlements separately in appropriate cases. 22. In the present case, it is not in dispute that the acquisition under the Asom Mala Project was undertaken for widening and upgradation of the Dalgaon- Fatasimulu PWD road and that compensation was paid to patta land holders whose lands were acquired. It is also an admitted position that the petitioners are not landowners and that their pucca RCC shop structures were situated on Government land within the Silbori Gaon Panchayat Office Compound and Daily Market. The petitioners themselves have stated that they were permitted to carry on business in the said market area by the Gaon Panchayat and were paying tax. 23. The grievance of the petitioners is that though their shop structures, which were their only source of livelihood and primary source of income, were measured and demolished for the road widening work, no compensation has been paid to them, whereas similarly situated persons in other areas have allegedly been compensated. It is their case that assurances were given by the officials that compensation would be paid under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 and Page No.# 18/20 that they were made to cooperate in the process of demolition on such assurance. 24. The petitioners seek to place reliance on the provisions of Section 3(c) and Section 46 of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 as well as Schedule II thereof, contending that they fall within the definition of “affected family” since their livelihood was affected due to demolition of their shops. It is contended that even non-land owning persons whose source of livelihood is affected are entitled to rehabilitation and resettlement benefits under the Act. 25. There is no dispute with the legal position that Section 3(c) of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 defines “affected family” in an inclusive manner and in certain cases includes persons whose livelihood is affected due to acquisition of land, even if they do not own land. It is also true that Schedule II provides for rehabilitation and resettlement benefits, including one-time financial assistance to small traders and self-employed persons in appropriate cases. However, the said provisions are attracted in the context of acquisition of land in accordance with law, where displacement or impact on livelihood arises out of such acquisition. 26. Ordinarily, a family which does not own land but nevertheless falls within the definition of an “affected family” and whose livelihood is adversely impacted as a consequence of land acquisition may be entitled to the rehabilitation and resettlement benefits contemplated under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, including the one-time financial assistance provided under Schedule II. However, the entitlement to such benefits must arise from and be traceable to an acquisition undertaken under the statutory framework. In the present case, the land on which the petitioners had established their structures and carried on business is Page No.# 19/20 admittedly Government land and was not itself the subject matter of acquisition. The acquisition undertaken for the Asom Mala Project related only to private patta lands and was carried out through direct purchase by way of negotiated settlement in terms of the notification dated 20.01.2021. Although the petitioners' shop structures were removed in the course of implementation of the project and their livelihood may have been adversely affected thereby, they have not been able to establish any legally recognised right, title, interest, or entitlement in respect of the land on which such structures stood. In the absence of any acquisition of their land or any statutory recognition of their status as beneficiaries under the applicable scheme, the petitioners cannot, as a matter of enforceable legal right, claim compensation or rehabilitation benefits under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013. 27. Furthermore, the notification dated 20.01.2021 does not contain any specific provision providing for payment of compensation in respect of structures standing on Government land occupied by persons lacking any proprietary right over such land. Although the notification contemplates consideration of interested persons other than landowners in appropriate cases, there is no material available on record to demonstrate that the petitioners were identified or recognised by the competent authority as persons entitled to any benefit under the scheme. 28. In such circumstances, this Court is unable to accept the contention that the petitioners have acquired an enforceable legal right to claim compensation under the provisions of the RFCTLARR Act, 2013 or under the scheme framed pursuant to the notification dated 20.01.2021. It is, of course, open to the Government, as a matter of policy or on humanitarian considerations, to extend Page No.# 20/20 financial assistance or ex gratia support to the petitioners. However, no statutory or legal right to claim such compensation has been made out before this Court. 29. For the foregoing reasons, this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioners have failed to establish any enforceable legal right for payment of compensation in respect of the structures/pucca shops removed/demolished for widening and upgradation of the Dalgaon-Fatasimulu Road under the Asom Mala Project. 30. Accordingly, the writ petitions stand dismissed. However, considering the specific case of the petitioners that assurances were extended by the respondent authorities regarding payment of compensation at the time of demolition and removal of the structures, the respondent authorities may consider and dispose of the representation dated 12.06.2023 submitted by the petitioners on humanitarian considerations, in accordance with law. Such exercise shall be undertaken within a period of 3 (three) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment and order. 31. The writ petitions stand disposed of, in terms above. JUDGE Comparing Assistant