In Brief:
- A division bench led by Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar admitted the PIL regarding severe flood damage across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat districts.
- The petition cites rampant uncheck riverbed mining in the Dikhow river, unchecked mining in Nagaland border areas, and uncoordinated dam water releases as major drivers of the disaster.
- The high court directed the state governments of Assam and Nagaland, along with relevant administrative authorities, to submit their responses prior to the November 3 deadline.
The Gauhati High Court has admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) submitted by senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia, alleging state government negligence and illegal riverbed mining significantly aggravated the catastrophic July floods in Upper Assam. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar issued notices to respondents—including the governments of Assam and Nagaland—instructing them to file detailed counter-affidavits by November 3.
The petition contends that unchecked sand and gravel mining along the Dikhow river and its tributaries destroyed natural protective riverbeds, while uncoordinated water releases from the Doyang Hydro Electric Project exacerbated the crisis, resulting in 105 casualties and widespread displacement across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat districts. Observing that annual flood misery must be systematically prevented, the court called for administrative accountability and strict adherence to environmental safeguards.
