Making forest areas in Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland & Arunachal encroachment-free

HC expects 4 states to resolve issues themselves by Nov 4

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: A division bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury is very heartening to note that all four states—Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh—are ad idem (all parties involved have a shared understanding of its terms and subject matter) on the issue of the importance of clearance of the forest area of all encroachments.

Hearing the PIL 77/2018 filed by Asom Basaok, an NGO, today the bench said, “It appears that several rounds of meetings have taken place between the officials of the four states to come to a consensus and build a roadmap for making the forests encroachment-free. There are some issues that are plaguing complete implementation of

this mission; maybe certain litigations are pending before the Supreme Court, and there are also some other contentious issues with respect to the occupation of the people in the inner-line forest area.”

This court believes that nothing can remain unresolved with a fruitful dialogue. It is acceptable to all the learnt advocate generals of the four states to convene a high-level meeting of the chief secretaries and chiefs of the forest departments of each of the states as well as other relevant stakeholders for formulating a comprehensive plan for making the forest area encroachment-free.

“We have also appreciated the stand of the states in not bringing here any issue relating to border disputes between them,” the bench said, adding, “Border disputes would be resolved, but before that, what is of utmost importance is that the forest area falling under the territorial jurisdiction of the states ought to be free of all encroachments. This would be in compliance with the Supreme Court judgement in that regard.

Without making the entire forest area encroachment-free, the biotic pressure cannot be eased. We hope and expect that by the next date, this court will be informed about the resolution passed by the high-level committee and its implementation on the ground.”

The bench further said, “We would appreciate if all the states put in their response affidavit(s). Stating the part of the responsibility that they would be discharging after the meeting and after the resolution to that effect is formulated.”

The court listed these matters for further consideration on November 4, 2025.

Earlier, the court heard Advocate N. Gautam for the petitioners, Assam’s Advocate General D. Saikia, Mizoram Advocate General B. Deb, Nagaland Advocate General K.N. Balgopal, and Arunachal Pradesh Advocate General A. Chandran.

Also read: Assam Cabinet Mandates Approval for Forest Area Changes

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