Gauhati HC tightens screws on Assam govt, seeks compensation timeline for Batadrava demolition

Guwahati:  The Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to submit a specific timeframe for releasing the compensation to six people, whose homes were demolished by Assam Police in May 2022.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by the court itself (Suo Moto PIL No.3/2022), the Gauhati High Court Chief Vijay Bishnoi ensured progress on compensation for six individuals whose houses were demolished at Batadrava in Assam Nagaon’s district.

The Home and Political (A) department informed the court that the government had finalized the compensation amount and forwarded it to the Finance Department for disbursement.

The court directed the Finance Department to submit a specific timeframe for releasing the compensation to the affected individuals within a week.

While P. Nayak, Standing Counsel, Finance Department prayed for time, the court granted a week to apprise this Court as to by what time the compensation would be paid to the affected persons under the proposal sent by the Assam Home and Political (A) department.

Action Sought in Custodial Death Case:

A separate writ petition (WP(C) No.239/2024) was filed by Rachida Khatun, the wife of Safikul Islam, who died in police custody and sought appropriate compensation from the Assam government.

Despite being served notice, the Assam government failed to file a response within a reasonable timeframe.

The high court granted the Assam government one last week to submit a reply to the writ petition and explain why interim compensation shouldn't be awarded to the petitioner while the case awaits resolution.

Both PIL (Suo Moto) No.3/2022 and WP(C) No.239/2024 have been listed for further hearing on May 14, 2024.

Earlier, the Gauhati High Court reprimanded Assam police for demolishing the homes of the six men accused of setting fire to the Batadrava Police Station.

The Batadrava Police Station was set on fire on May 21, 2022, by a mob following the alleged custodial death of a local fish trader, Safikul Islam (39), who was picked up by police the night before.

A day later, the district authorities had demolished at least six houses, including Islam's, using a bulldozer purportedly in search of weapons and drugs hidden beneath the structures.