Guwahati: In a significant ruling, the Gauhati High Court has directed the Assam government to provide compensation to Rashida Khatun, the widow of Safiqul Islam, whose house was unlawfully demolished by authorities in Nagaon district.
The demolition occurred in the aftermath of an arson attack on a police station in Batadrava, Nagaon, in 2022.
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The court’s decision emerged during the hearing of a Suo Motu public interest litigation (PIL) initiated to address the matter.
The case highlighted the plight of Rashida Khatun and six other families whose homes were razed by the administration as part of the response to the police station attack.
During the proceedings, NK Sarma, counsel for the petitioner, informed the court that while the government had compensated six other affected families, Rashida Khatun had yet to receive any payment for her losses.
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This discrepancy was brought to the court’s attention through an affidavit that detailed the compensation distribution.
According to the affidavit, the Assam government provided Rs 12 lakh each to two families whose homes were made of reinforced concrete.
Additionally, four other families, who lived in non-concrete structures, received Rs 2.5 lakh each in compensation.
Despite these payments, Rashida Khatun’s compensation remained pending.
Representing the Assam government, Senior Government Advocate D Nath assured the court that the Home Department had already sanctioned the compensation for Rashida Khatun.
He further committed that the payment would be disbursed within the next two weeks.
The court’s directive is seen as a significant step towards ensuring justice for the affected families, particularly for Rashida Khatun, who has been waiting for her rightful compensation.