GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has granted the Finance Department of Assam a week's time to inform the court when compensation will be paid to those whose houses in Batadrava, Nagaon district, were demolished by Assam Police in May 2022. The demolition occurred following an alleged arson incident at the Batadrava Police Station.
The division bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam was hearing a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the demolition of six houses in Batadrava. It was reported to the court by the counsel representing the Home and Political (A) Department, Government of Assam, that the compensation amount had been determined and the matter had been referred to the Finance Department for processing.
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The court granted the Finance Department one week to update the court on when compensation would be paid to the affected individuals, following the proposal from the Home and Political (A) Department.
Additionally, the High Court addressed a separate writ petition, filed by a woman whose husband died in police custody in Batadrava. The petitioner sought appropriate compensation from the State of Assam. The court granted the state government a final opportunity to respond to the writ petition within a week, noting that considerable time had already passed without a reply from the state.
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"Mr. D. Nath, learned Senior Government Advocate, Assam, prays for and is granted a final opportunity of a week's time to file a reply to the writ petition. Mr. Nath is further directed to respond as to why interim compensation should not be granted to the petitioner during the pendency of this writ petition," the court directed.
Both the writ petitions are scheduled for a further hearing on May 14.
