The Gauhati High Court has mandated the Assam government to provide potable water, basic medical and sanitation amenities, and food grains to people affected by eviction drives in Goalpara district in June last year through fair-priced shops. It stated that the “right to life” encompasses “the right to live with dignity, the right to potable water, the right to sanitation, and the right to basic medical facilities.”
A court chaired by Justice Devashish Baurah issued the ruling in response to a writ petition filed by 60 petitioners impacted by the evictions that took place in the Hashila Beel region on June 16, 17, and 18, 2025.
The petitioners stated that 566 households, including children, were forced to seek sanctuary in a small plot of patta property owned by someone else. They claimed that for more than eight months, the impacted households, including the petitioners, have been living in abject poverty, with no access to drinkable water, sanitation, food, or basic medical treatment.
It has been alleged that “a state of humanitarian crisis” has occurred, and the petitioners have requested many directions through the writ petition, including the establishment of a court investigation into the eviction effort.
After hearing the petitioner’s and respondents’ arguments, Justice Baruah stated in his order: “It is the opinion of this court that the right to life includes the right to live with dignity, the right to potable water, sanitation, and the right to basic medical facilities. The ‘Act of 2013’ refers to the National Food Security Act of 2013. This court also believes that benefits should be paid to eligible citizens under the Act of 2013. The court ordered that the petitioners, as well as the other impacted families, be given access to safe drinking water and basic medical care.”
The court asked the government “to find out avenues for setting up a proper temporary sanitation mechanism so that the petitioners and other families residing on the said compact plot of patta land can use the same” .
It also ruled that appropriate rations as per the Act of 2013 be available in the fair pricing shops identified on the ration cards supplied to affected families, and that food grains be delivered upon production of the ration cards. The court stated that “these directions must be compiled by the authorities. It also directed the respondent authorities to record their position by filing affidavits by March 9. ”
“In these affidavits which are being filed, more particularly by the district commissioner, Goalpara there has to be special mention, as to whether the petitioners are being provided with the basic necessities of life forming part of the right to life,” the court order read. It set the next hearing date to be Tuesday, March 11.
