Supreme Court verdict on forest evictions in Assam landmark, will streamline encroachment drives: Sarma

Assam's CM praises Supreme Court ruling on forest evictions, aiming to enhance anti-encroachment efforts and streamline processes.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) termed the Supreme Court’s judgment allowing the State to carry out evictions in reserved forest areas after clearance by a specially constituted committee as "landmark", saying it will streamline anti-encroachment drives.

He said over 1.25 lakh bighas of forest land have been cleared of encroachments, with another 20 bighas still under illegal occupation.

"This is a landmark judgment in the history of our forest department…The State government has won a historic case which gives it the full right to evict in forest land. The apex court even said that if the forest comes under panchayat areas, it cannot be an excuse for not evicting," Mr. Sarma said at a press conference here.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday (February 10, 2026) allowed the Assam government to constitute a committee of forest and revenue officials to look into unauthorised occupants in the Doyang reserved forest and its adjoining villages in Golaghat district, observing that forests constitute one of the most vital natural resources of the nation.

A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe said the committee will issue notices to the alleged unauthorised occupants and give them an opportunity to adduce evidence to show that they have the right to occupy the land which is in their possession.

It said that if an unauthorised occupation is found in a reserve forest area, a speaking order shall be passed and served on the person concerned, giving him 15 days' notice to vacate the unauthorised occupation.