New Delhi: Assam’s Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has come under the ire of the Chief Justice of India for appealing in the Supreme Court against the ongoing eviction drive in various parts of the country . Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud has even warned Saikia not to give a political speech on the floor of the court.
Saikia had recently approached the Supreme Court requesting to issue a national advisory regarding the eviction drive in Assam’s Garukhuti and Dhalpur . During the hearing on a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra Saikia said “India has become a cruel nation as it uses bulldozers to raze houses of alleged encroachers without prior determination of squatters on public land and without serving prior notice,” Assam leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia told the Supreme Court on Friday while seeking a national guideline for removal of encroachments without arbitrary use of bulldozers. Chief Justice Chandrachud got angry when he heard this. Senior advocate C U Singh appeared for Saikia in the court. CJI saidDELHI”Do not give a political speech in court… Don’t put premium on encroachment of public land,”.The CJI-led bench said, “If it is such a live issue for you (Saikia), why did the leader of opposition wait for eight months to move the Supreme Court? If you are so concerned, why wait this long?” .Debabrata Saikia had earlier approached the Gauhati High Court challenging the eviction drive in Garukhuti and Dhalpur. Notably, the senior advocate repeated requests on behalf of Saikia .The CJI said, “Does that mean you put a premium on encroachment of public land? Then you will allege that public projects, which are to be set up on those encroached public land, are not getting implemented.” The CJI bench dismissed Saikia’s plea. However, out of the 700 families evicted from Dhalpur and Gorukhuti, the Supreme Court has issued orders to hold the respective district commissioners accountable in connection with the fact that 100 families are yet to be rehabilitated. Even after the high court passed the order for rehabilitation within six months it is alleged that nothing has been done till now.
