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The Hindu
16 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Gauhati HC raps State over 3,000 bighas of tribal land given to private company for mining
The Gauhati High Court, last week, expressed shock and displeasure over the Assam government allotting around 3,000 bighas of land to a private cement company for the purpose of mining in the Dima Hasao region of Assam. The area falls within the 6th Scheduled District under the Constitution of India, where the priority has to be given to the rights and interests of the tribal people residing there, the court noted. According to reports, the Assam government, in October last year, allotted 2,000 bigha of land to the private company, which is registered in Kolkata. A month later, another 1,000 bighas were given to the same firm, in an adjacent plot. In February 2025, the same firm had signed an MoU for investment worth ₹110 billion with Assam government during an investment summit. Questioning the allotment, Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi, while hearing the matter on August 12, orally remarked that the government's decision of giving an 'extraordinary' chunk of land to Mahabal Cement Private Limited is the opposite of its objective, that is public interest. 'Some kind of joke?' '3,000 bighas! That is almost an entire district? We know how barren the land is... 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke or what? Your need is not the issue... the public interest is the issue,' the court noted. The counsel representing the company submitted in the court that the land allotment to his client has been made according to a mining lease granted under a tender process. The court still directed the authorities of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), also known as the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council — an autonomous district council in Assam — to obtain the records containing the policy to allot such a huge chunk of land to a factory. 'The aforesaid direction has been given by taking into account that the district is a 6th Scheduled District under the Constitution of India, where the priority has to be given to the rights and interests of the tribal people residing there. Further, the area involved is Umrangso in the district of Dima Hasao, which is known as an environmental hotspot containing hot springs, stopover for migratory birds, wild life etc.' court added.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gauhati HC questions Assam govt decision of transferring 'entire district' to a private company
The Gauhati high court has expressed shock over the grant of 3,000 bighas (4.02 sq km) of land to a cement company in Assam's Dima Hasao district, which falls under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution , according to a report in TOI. Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi, while hearing two petitions related to the land allocation, remarked, '3,000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? 3,000 bighas allotted to a private company? We know how barren the land is... 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke or what? Your need is not the issue... the public interest is the issue.' Petitions before the court The court was hearing one petition filed by Sonesh Hojai and 21 others against the state government and six others, including the cement company, and another petition filed by the cement company against the state government and 10 others. Both matters concern the allocation of land in Dima Hasao. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Direction to NCHAC counsel The judge directed the standing counsel of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), C Sarma, to obtain records containing the policy under which such a large tract of land was allotted to a private company. 'The aforesaid direction has been given by taking into account that the district is a 6th Scheduled district under the Constitution of India, where the priority has to be given to the rights and interest of the tribal people residing there,' the court stated in its order. Environmental significance of area The court also noted that the land in question is located in Umrangso in Dima Hasao, which is known as an environmental hotspot with hot springs, a stopover for migratory birds, and diverse wildlife. Live Events Cement company's submission Appearing for the cement company, counsel G Goswami argued that the land allotted was barren and required for the company's operations. The court, however, did not accept these submissions and reiterated its direction to produce the relevant policy documents regarding the allotment of 3,000 bighas of land to the factory. The court said it would examine the allotment process in detail before passing further orders. The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 1.
Time of India
19 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Gauhati HC has questioned the Assam government's decision to transfer an entire district to a private company
The Gauhati High Court has questioned the Assam government 's decision to transfer nearly 3,000 bighas of land in Dima Hasao district to a proposed Cement factory . The court termed the allotment as 'extra ordinary'. During a recent hearing, Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi expressed shock at the move, saying, "3,000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? A private company ( Mahabal Cements ) being given 3,000 bighas? We know how barren the land is but 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke? Public interest , not private interest, is what matters." The court directed the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) to place before it the official records and the policy under which such a vast tract was handed over. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo The company's counsel argued that the land was 'only barren land' and was essential for the functioning of the factory, claiming that the allotment was made pursuant to a mining lease granted under a tender process. Petitioners opposing the decision have alleged that several families in Dima Hasao are being evicted from land they lawfully possess for the project. Live Events Dima Hasao is a sixth schedule under the Constitution. A senior official in Assam government said that the Kolkata based Mahabal Cement had signed an MoU for investment worth Rs 11,000 crore with the state during Advantage Assam 2.0 summit held in February this year. The disputed land, located in Umrangso, is also an environmental hotspot with hot springs, migratory bird habitats, and significant wildlife presence, the Court recorded. The Court said it would examine the allotment process in detail before passing further orders. The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 1.
Economic Times
19 hours ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Gauhati HC has questioned the Assam government's decision to transfer an entire district to a private company
Agencies Gauhati High Court and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma The Gauhati High Court has questioned the Assam government's decision to transfer nearly 3,000 bighas of land in Dima Hasao district to a proposed Cement factory. The court termed the allotment as 'extra ordinary'. During a recent hearing, Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi expressed shock at the move, saying, "3,000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? A private company (Mahabal Cements) being given 3,000 bighas? We know how barren the land is but 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke? Public interest, not private interest, is what matters." The court directed the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) to place before it the official records and the policy under which such a vast tract was handed over. The company's counsel argued that the land was 'only barren land' and was essential for the functioning of the factory, claiming that the allotment was made pursuant to a mining lease granted under a tender process. Petitioners opposing the decision have alleged that several families in Dima Hasao are being evicted from land they lawfully possess for the project. Dima Hasao is a sixth schedule under the Constitution. A senior official in Assam government said that the Kolkata based Mahabal Cement had signed an MoU for investment worth Rs 11,000 crore with the state during Advantage Assam 2.0 summit held in February this year. The disputed land, located in Umrangso, is also an environmental hotspot with hot springs, migratory bird habitats, and significant wildlife presence, the Court recorded. The Court said it would examine the allotment process in detail before passing further orders. The matter has been posted for further hearing on September 1.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
3,000 bighas to cement co in 6th Schedule area shocks HC
Guwahati: Gauhati high court expressed shock over the grant of 3,000 bighas (4.02 sq km) of land to a cement company in Assam's Dima Hasao district, which falls under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi, while hearing two petitions — one filed by Sonesh Hojai and 21 others against state govt and six others, including the cement company, and the other by the cement company against state govt and 10 others related to the land allocation in Dima Hasao — remarked, "3,000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? 3,000 bighas allotted to a private company? We know how barren the land is... 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke or what? Your need is not the issue. .. the public interest is the issue." The judge directed the NCHAC (North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council) standing counsel, C Sarma, to "obtain records containing the policy to allot such a huge chunk of land to a factory." "The aforesaid direction has been given by taking into account that the district is a 6th Scheduled district under the Constitution of India, where the priority has to be given to the rights and interest of the tribal people residing there," the court said in the order. The court noted that the area involved is Umrangso in Dima Hasao, which is known as an environmental hotspot containing hot springs, a stopover for migratory birds, wildlife, etc. Counsel for the cement company, G Goswami, said the land allotted was only barren land and that it was needed for the operation of the company. The court, however, did not heed these submissions and called for the records containing the policy to allot such a huge chunk of land measuring 3,000 bighas to a factory.
