Shillong, Aug 18 (Agencies): The Gauhati High Court recently expressed shock at the allocation of 3,000 bighas of land in a Sixth Schedule district in Assam to a cement company.
Videos of Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi expressing shock at the allocation went viral on social media. Bar and Bench reported that Medhi said the company, Mahabal Cements, “must be very influential” to have “almost half of the district allotted” in its favour. “What kind of a decision is this? Is this some kind of joke or what? How do you allot 3,000 bighas to a company? Do you understand the magnitude of 3,000 bighas? It will be half of the district,” Justice Medhi remarked during a hearing on August 12.
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The 3,000 bighas were allocated in Dima Hasao, which is a Sixth Schedule area. When the counsel for the company tried to argue her point by saying it is a barren land, Medhi said, “We know how barren NC (North Cachar) is. What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of a joke or what?”
When the counsel tried to reason that the land was needed, Medhi said, “Your need is not the issue, Madam. Public interest is the issue.”
The case will be heard next on September 1.
