The Supreme Court directed the Assam government not to take further steps with regard of the withdrawal of the notification dated March 17, 1998.
Hearing the matter by a Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta made an order restraining the Assam government’s move to withdraw a notification issued nearly 26 years ago, by the State’s Forest Department.
Thanks to the notification constituting the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, hosts one of the largest rhino populations in the country. The state’s cabinet had withdrawn the notification in its meeting on March 10. The official reason given by the government is that the sanctuary was created without settling the rights of the people living there. The areas is consists of Thengabhanga, Murkara and Mayong.
The Hon’ble Apex Court pointed out that the state unilaterally cannot withdraw a notification without the permission of the National Board of Wildlife.
However, the court pointed out that the Court’s stay order will not come in the way of the government “doing something to protect the rights of the forest dwellers”.
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