Supreme Court issues contempt notice to Assam govt over 'bulldozer action'
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to the Assam government on Monday in response to a plea filed by 47 residents accusing the state of violating the court's direction that no demolitions be carried out without its approval.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan asked the state to respond within three weeks and that the status quo be maintained till the next hearing.
The petitioners claim that the authorities demolished their homes despite a previous Supreme Court ruling and assurance from the Assam Advocate General to the Gauhati High Court on September 20 that no action would be taken against them till their pleas were resolved.
The matter involves the bulldozer action against 47 homes in Kachutoli Pathar village and adjoining areas of Assam's Kamrup district. The petitioners claim that they lived there for decades under agreements with the original landowners. They challenge the state's labelling of them as "illegal occupants" of tribal land, claiming that they have not broken any laws and that their occupation was allowed under previous agreements.
- PTC NEWS
