Court orders demolition of illegal construction in Tezpur Idgah field

From a Correspondent

Tezpur, Dec 8: The bench of two judges of Guahati High Court, Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Kalyan Rai Sura, in a verdict against a PIL filed by advocate Nilakshya Sarma of Tezpur Court seeking intervention of the Guahati High Court in the illegal construction of many business sheds in the Tezpur Idgah area located in the heart of the Tezpur, has ordered the Tezpur Idgah Committee to demolish all the said construction, thus making the religious area free from all sort of encroachment.

The court order said that during inquiry came to light that the Idgah field in Tezpur town was situated on government khas land vide dag no. 1828 and 1829, under Mahabhairab Mouza reserved for Tezpur Idgah Committee for the purpose of Id prayer. But it is now being used for construction of some structures by some people.

“It is seen that government notification being number RSS- 114/71/68 dated Dispur, Guwahati-781006 of September 9, 1975 stated that the Governor of Assam having considered all aspects of the matter and also for strengthening of understanding among different sections of the people is pleased to order that the Tezpur Idgah field comprising Dag Number 1828 and 1829 under Mahabhairab Mouza is being reserved for the Tezpur Idgah Committee for the Id prayer. The committee will look after the upkeep of the field. The field will remain sarakari khas and it will remain under the custody of the Deputy Commissioner, Darrang who will whenever necessary, give permission for games and holding social and public functions, while seeing that the field is not used for such purpose as may affect the Muslim religious sentiment,” the order stated, adding that the Deputy Commissioner might allow the Idgah Committee to construct walls around the field as boundary for its proper upkeep.

The field was initially called ‘Chitraban Bakori’ which is now commonly known as Idgah Field. There was some dispute between the Madhya Tezpur Rangali Bihu Sanmilan and the Idgah Committee for which some land of Tezpur Mahakuma Parishad measuring about 2 kotha 4 lessa was sold to the Madhya Tezpur Rangali Bihu Sanmilan vide registered sale deed. The field has been used as playground for the Tezpur Academy Higher Secondary School and the Bengali Boys Higher Secondary School. The elderly people of the town used to do morning walk in the field, but since February, 2014 the gate has been kept locked by the Idgah Committee. The government order allowed the Muslim community of Tezpur to hold Idgah prayer on two days of the year and also allowed the Madhya Tezpur Rangali Bihu Sanmilan to use the play ground as a venue for the audience and general public for enjoying Bihu functions. Now some persons, under the banner of Tezpur Idgah Committee, have been trying to make two sheds in front of the Bihu Mancha and stop the students from carrying out their sports activities, thereby leading to discontentment among different communities in the area for which there was an apprehension of law-and-order situation due to which further construction on the land was stopped by the Idgah committee.

However, the Idgah Committee is yet to take action regarding demolishing the illegally constructed business sheds for which the Guahati High Court has ordered the district administration to move for the demolishing of the said illegal construction in front of the Bihu Mancha inside the Idgah Field.

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