Villagers move high court to oppose govt apathy

GUWAHATI: At least 16 villagers living in Garbhanga Reserve Forest, located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, have knocked the doors of Gauhati high court in protest against apathy of the state government.
The court, admitting their prayers, has directed both the Centre and the state government to file their respective replies within four weeks. The court response came after Kabin Ronhang, a local youth, moved the court on Saturday.
Highlighting the plight of the dwellers, the PIL mentioned how the villagers have been deprived of their basic fundamental rights due to severe negligence by the government.
Human rights law network member and lawyer Pabitra Hazarika, who represented the villagers in the court, said, "There were over 563 people and their families are living in the area for over a century now. The entire area doesn't have any road, electricity, health and education facilities for a long time."
The location is under Guwahati West assembly constituency.
Without an ME or high school in the area, which is at least 20 km from the village, the petitioners accused the government of violating the Right To Education Act norms.
Hazarika added that in 2012, some 33 villagers had written a letter to the then chief justice of Gauhati high court seeking respite. Later, they were asked to pray before the state legal services authority, which took up the matter thereafter.
The PIL said though the village has around 350 BPL families, they never visit a fair price shop as the nearest one is over 20 km away. Due to unavailability of roads, the village can't avail ambulance service during an emergency.