Gauhati High Court Delivers Scathing Rebuke: Claims of Religious Persecution in Assam Labelled 'Misinformation'

The Gauhati High Court has delivered a powerful and unequivocal verdict, lambasting certain media reports that propagated claims of religious persecution and illegal evictions targeting a specific community in Assam. In a resounding pronouncement, the court firmly categorized these widespread allegations as nothing short of "misinformation," sending a clear message against sensationalism and unsubstantiated reporting.

Justice Kalyan Rai Surana, presiding over the case, did not mince words when addressing the veracity of such claims.

The court expressed deep concern over the media's role in disseminating unverified information, stating explicitly that it could not act on mere reports without concrete, demonstrable evidence of religious persecution. This stern rebuke underscores the judiciary's commitment to factual integrity and its rejection of narratives not supported by legal proof.

The ruling came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mohd.

Abdul Haque, which alleged that "Muslims of Bengali origin" were being subjected to "religious persecution" and "illegal evictions" by the state administration. The petitioner’s plea painted a picture of targeted actions based on religious identity, aiming to halt the ongoing eviction drives in certain areas of Assam.

However, the court found a significant gap between the claims and the presented facts.

Justice Surana critically noted that the petitioner failed to provide any specific instances or credible evidence to substantiate the grave allegations of religious persecution. Instead, the petition relied heavily on general statements and media portrayals, which the court deemed insufficient to warrant judicial intervention on such a serious charge.

Furthermore, the Gauhati High Court meticulously clarified the state's position regarding the eviction drives.

It firmly stated that these actions were not religiously motivated but were legitimate measures to clear illegal encroachments from forest lands and other protected areas. Citing the venerable Forest Policy of 1894 and the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation of 1886, the court emphasized the state's statutory obligation to protect its natural resources and public lands from unauthorized occupation.

The court underscored that the state government is legally bound to ensure that forest lands, which are vital for environmental and ecological balance, remain free from encroachment, irrespective of the encroacher's religious affiliation or background.

This legal duty, the court highlighted, supersedes any claims of community-specific targeting when the actions are clearly aimed at upholding land laws.

In a final, decisive move, the Gauhati High Court unequivocally dismissed the PIL, characterizing it as an "abuse of the process of law." This strong conclusion serves as a potent reminder that legal mechanisms are for genuine grievances backed by evidence, not for propagating unverified claims or attempting to obstruct lawful administrative actions based on conjecture.

The verdict reaffirms the judiciary's role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is administered based on facts, not sensationalized reports.