The Supreme Court of India on Thursday heard a petition against the recent eviction drive carried out in the Hasila beel area of Assam’s Goalpara district, allegedly in violation of prior court directives. The evicted families, along with the Assam State Jamiat Ulama, had approached the apex court challenging the eviction, claiming it was executed in contempt of the Supreme Court’s earlier orders.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Assam, the District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Goalpara district, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, and the local Circle Officer. The court directed these authorities to explain how the eviction was carried out in apparent violation of its guidelines and why due legal procedures were not followed.

The petitioners argued that the eviction drive in Hasila beel was carried out arbitrarily and without due process, violating the fundamental rights of the affected families. Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing the petitioners on behalf of the Assam State Jamiat Ulama led by Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, argued the case before the court.

He was assisted by other advocates including Adil Ahmad, Mohammad Samsad, Abdur Rezzak Bhuiya, Junaid Khalid, and Aminul Islam, who provided substantial legal input in the matter. They contended that the eviction took place despite clear Supreme Court directions that no eviction should be carried out without following proper rehabilitation and legal procedures.

The court has sought a response from the state authorities explaining why the Supreme Court’s directives were disregarded and on what grounds the eviction was executed.

Representatives from the Assam State Jamiat Ulama, including working president Maulana Fazlul Karim Qasimi, general secretary and legislator Hafiz Maulana Rafiqul Islam, MLA Mijanur Rahman and Masum Khandakar, were also present during the hearing. Their presence was seen as a show of solidarity with the evicted families.