Guwahati, 1st October: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that the state government will respond to the Supreme Court’s notice regarding the ongoing demolition drive in the region. Sarma emphasized that the actions taken by the government are justified and fully compliant with the law. “We will respond to it. Whatever work we are doing is 100% correct,” he asserted.
The Supreme Court issued the notice to the Assam government following a contempt petition filed by 47 citizens. The petitioners alleged that there was a willful violation of the court’s interim order dated September 17, 2024, which mandated that no demolition activities could take place nationwide without the court’s prior approval.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan ruled that the parties involved should maintain the status quo in the interim. The notice is expected to be addressed within three weeks.
Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the petitioners, contended that there had been a “severe breach of the Court’s order.” She claimed that officials in Assam had marked the petitioners’ homes for demolition without prior notice, despite the court’s directive. The Supreme Court’s interim ruling explicitly stated that no demolitions may occur nationwide without its approval, although it did not cover encroachments on public roads, sidewalks, railway tracks, or water bodies.
Following the court’s order, the petitioners initiated contempt proceedings, asserting that state officials disregarded the ruling by marking their homes for demolition on the grounds of encroachment. Ahmadi reported that demolitions had already commenced and requested an order to maintain the status quo, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
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