Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Thursday sought the Assam government’s response to a writ petition challenging the detention of indigenous rights activist Pranab Doley under the National Security Act (NSA), directing the Home and Political Department to appear before it on September 14.

Doley was represented by Senior Advocate Santanu Borthakur and Advocate Dipesh Agarwala.

The development comes nearly a month after the Assam government invoked the NSA against Doley in connection with a case arising from protests against a proposed luxury hotel project near Kaziranga National Park. A Golaghat court granted him bail on July 29, but he was detained under the NSA the following day, before he could be released.

Doley was arrested on July 12 in connection with Bokakhat Police Station Case No. 108/2026, registered over protests at the proposed hotel project site at Inlay Pathar, a village adjoining Kaziranga.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Golaghat, granted him bail on July 29 on a bond of Rs 20,000 with one surety. On July 30, the Assam government issued an order directing his preventive detention under Section 3(2) of the NSA.

The detention order said the government had examined a report from the Senior Superintendent of Police, Golaghat, along with case records, statements and intelligence inputs. It described Doley’s activities as “prejudicial to the maintenance of public order as well as the security of the State” and said ordinary criminal law was insufficient to prevent him from continuing such activities.

The grounds of detention referred to 13 criminal cases registered against Doley between 2017 and 2026 in Bokakhat, Golaghat and Dergaon. They include allegations relating to public disorder, violence, criminal intimidation, obstruction of public servants, extortion, communal incitement and offences against women.

The detention order also referred to alleged foreign remittances, overseas travel and Doley’s participation in protests, including land rights demonstrations and opposition to the proposed hotel project near Kaziranga.

The High Court’s latest proceedings follow an order passed by Justice Manish Choudhury on August 7 on a separate petition filed by Doley’s father concerning his access to his son in detention.

According to that petition, Doley’s father, accompanied by a next friend and his son’s lawyer, went to Golaghat District Jail on July 31 to meet him. The jail authorities allegedly told them to obtain permission from the district magistrate.

Applications were subsequently made to the district magistrate on August 2 and 4, followed by another application to the jail authorities on August 5. The petitioner said none of the requests received a response.

Justice Choudhury held that Doley’s father did not need to approach the district magistrate for permission to meet his son. The court directed the Superintendent of District Jail, Golaghat, to facilitate such meetings when sought by the petitioner and his next friend.

The court also directed that Doley be permitted to meet a legal adviser of his choice at any reasonable hour after taking an appointment from the jail superintendent. The appointment is to be given without avoidable delay.

The order relied on the Supreme Court’s 1981 judgment in Francis Coralie Mullin v. Administrator, Union Territory of Delhi, which recognised access to family members, friends and legal advisers as part of the rights protected under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

The August 7 petition was disposed of with these directions.

The circumstances of Doley’s detention have also drawn attention because the NSA order followed immediately after the grant of bail in the criminal case arising from the Kaziranga protest.

In its July 29 bail order, the Golaghat court questioned several aspects of the prosecution’s case. It noted that there was no prima facie video evidence showing protesters directly attacking police personnel and that investigators had not recovered the machetes and sharp sticks allegedly carried by protesters.

On the allegation that protesters attempted to set a cement mixer on fire, the court noted that video footage showed a woman pouring diesel on the machine but did not show an attempt to ignite it.

The court also found that allegations concerning the alleged assault on women police personnel were general and were not specifically attributed to Doley or any identified individual.

The prosecution had cited alleged suspicious domestic and foreign funds, overseas travel and money received from the Delhi-based Environics Trust while opposing bail. The court held that these allegations did not justify his continued custody in the case.

It noted that key witness statements had been recorded, video evidence secured and Doley’s passport seized, reducing the risk of him fleeing or tampering with evidence.

The court also observed that the protests were rooted in concerns over environmental degradation and their impact on the socio-cultural fabric of local Tea Tribes. It called for structured and peaceful dialogue among stakeholders.

The proceedings come amid continuing protests by local residents and activists over the proposed luxury hotel project near Kaziranga.

Adivasi woman protester Geeta Gowala, who has been opposing the alleged takeover of farming land for the luxury hotel project, was also summoned to the Kohora police outpost in connection with a separate FIR registered on May 30.

The High Court is scheduled to hear the challenge to his preventive detention next on September 14.