'3000 Bighas Of Land Given To A Private Company! Is This A Joke?': Gauhati HC Takes Exception To Allotment Of Tribal Land To Cement Company

The Gauhati High Court has expressed its reservation over the grant of around 3000 bighas of land to a private cement company (Mahabal Cements) for the purpose of mining in the state of Assam, in the Dima Hasao region.

Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi orally remarked, "3000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? 3000 bighas allotted to a private company? We know how barren the land is...3000 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."

Counsel for the cement company stated that 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 3000 Bighas to a factory.

It further noted 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, it stated that the area involved is Umrangso in the district of Dima Hasao, which is known as an environmental hotspot containing hot springs, a stopover for migratory birds, wildlife etc.

"A cursory glance into the facts of the case would reveal that the land which has been sought to be allotted is about 3000 Bighas which itself appears to be extra ordinary," the bench recorded in its order.

Case: Mahabal Cement Pvt Ltd v State of Assam

Case No: WP(C)/337/2025

Click here to read order