SC ruling on Assam forest evictions to speed up encroachment drives
SC ruling on Assam forest evictions to speed up encroachment drives
The Supreme Court clears Assam to evict unauthorised occupants in reserve forests using a special committee, a historic move CM Sarma says will streamline encroachment drives.
On February 11, 2026, the Supreme Court delivered a ruling that allows Assam to carry out evictions in reserve forest areas after clearance by a specially constituted committee. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the verdict landmark and said it will streamline anti-encroachment drives. He noted that about 1,25,326 bighas of forest land have been cleared of encroachments, with another 20 bighas still under illegal occupation.
The court’s decision enables the state to form a committee of forest and revenue officials to examine unauthorised occupants in the Doyang Reserved Forest and adjoining villages in Golaghat district. The committee will issue notices and give occupiers an opportunity to present evidence of their rights. If unauthorised occupation is found, a speaking order shall be issued and the occupant will be served a 15-day notice to vacate the land.
The Bench emphasised that forests are vital resources and that eviction procedures must be conducted with transparency and fairness. It also clarified that even if the forest lands fall under panchayat areas, that cannot be used as a reason to delay evictions.
Sarma stressed that the eviction process would now be streamlined and that the verdict marks a historic milestone in Assam’s anti-encroachment efforts. The ruling is seen as part of a broader push to reclaim encroached forest land, including efforts in Golaghat where eviction drives have begun.
