In Guwahati, the Guwahati High Court directed the Assam government to ensure that families affected by eviction drives in Goalpara district in June last year are provided with drinking water, basic medical and sanitation facilities and food grains through shops at fair prices.
She stressed that the “right to life” includes “the right to live in dignity, the right to drinkable water, the right to sanitation, as well as the right to basic medical facilities.”
The order was approved by a bench of Justice Devashish Bora on a writ petition filed by 60 petitioners who were affected during the evictions carried out on June 16, 17 and 18, 2025, in Hashila Beel area.
The petitioners claimed that 566 families, including children, had to take refuge in a small piece of pata land owned by some other people.
They alleged that for more than eight months, the affected families, including the petitioners, have been living in a state of abject poverty, with no access to drinking water, sanitation, food or proper medical care.
It was alleged that a “situation of humanitarian crisis” had then arisen and the petitioners had sought various directions through the writ petition, including a judicial inquiry into the eviction drive.
“This court is of the view that the right to life includes the right to live with dignity, the right to safe drinking water, the right to sanitation, as well as the right to basic medical facilities. This court is also of the view that under the 2013 Act, the benefits must be provided to deserving persons,” Justice Barua, after hearing the arguments advanced by the counsel for the petitioner as well as the respondents, said in his order.
“2013 Act” means the National Food Security Act of 2013.
The court ordered the provision of potable water and basic medical facilities to the petitioners along with other affected families.
The authorities were directed to “find ways to establish a suitable temporary sanitation mechanism so that the petitioners and other families residing in the said amalgamated plot of patta land can use the same.”
It also directed to ensure the availability of sufficient rations in shops at fair prices shown on the ration cards provided to affected families, in accordance with the 2013 law, and that when ration cards are produced, food grains are duly provided.
The court said that these directions are required by the authorities.
It also asked the respondent authorities to record their position by submitting affidavits on or before March 9.
“In these affidavits made, particularly by the District Commissioner, Goalpara, there must be special reference to whether the petitioners are getting the basic necessities of life which form part of the right to life,” the order said, with the next hearing scheduled for March 11.
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