Aizawl: The Gauhati High Court Thursday asked the governments of Assam and Mizoram, as well as the Centre to take necessary steps for smooth movement of goods vehicles and trains entering Mizoram so supply of essential items was not disrupted in the southernmost state of the Northeast.
A bench lead by Chief Justice (acting) N. Kotiswar Singh and also including Justice Manish Choudhury was hearing a PIL filed by the Mizoram Bar Association (MBA).
A.R. Malhotra, on behalf of the MBA, submitted that movement of trucks carrying essential items had resumed Wednesday night — after a 13-day blockade of roads leading into Mizoram from Assam. The petitioner, however, asked the court for necessary direction to the Assam government and the Centre to ensure there was no further disruption of supply lines.
Highways leading into Mizoram from Assam’s three southern districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj have been blockaded since 28 October following a boundary dispute between the two states.
The border conflict is a result of an unresolved territorial dispute that dates back at least five decades. The districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj in Assam share a border with Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl districts of Mizoram.
While Assam accepts a boundary defined by a 1933 notification, Mizoram has been sticking to an earlier demarcation drawn up in 1875. The issue resurfaced on 17 October when clashes erupted in the border areas. Several houses and shops were set on fire.
The road blockade was lifted after a meeting was held between Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and the chief secretaries of Mizoram and Assam — Lalnunmawia Chuaungo and Jishnu Baruah — Monday. It was also decided that central paramilitary personnel would be deployed in the disputed border areas in both states.
But the blockade had largely continued until Wednesday evening except for a few vehicles that were stranded for over a week, entering Mizoram.
Also read: All about Assam-Mizoram border dispute, which dates back 50 yrs & still remains unresolved
Court asks governments to ensure smooth movement of trains
The MBA had initially filed a PIL before the Aizawl bench of the Gauhati High Court Monday. The association submitted that despite the issue being a boundary dispute, “the road and railway blockade has been done with the full knowledge of the Assam government”.
It also alleged that no attempt was being made by the Assam government to ensure movement of people and essential supplies into Mizoram.
But the division bench of Justice Michael Zothankhuma and Justice Nelson Sailo decided that since the Assam government did not have a standing counsel in Mizoram, the court’s registry refer the case to the registrar general, so that the matter, if the chief justice saw fit, may be taken up by the principal seat.
Hearing the PIL Thursday, the Gauhati High Court in its order said, “We hope and expect that the Government of Assam, Government of Mizoram and the Union of India would take all the necessary steps required for smooth movement of traffic and essential items on the National Highway No 306 as well as the Inter-State Highway connecting Karimganj District, Assam with Mamit District, Mizoram at Medili, where according to the petitioner, the disturbances and obstructions had been taking place in the past.”
The court also asked the railway authorities, along with the state and central governments, to take necessary steps for ensuring smooth movement of trains from Assam’s Silchar to Bairabi in Mizoram.
“Before we pass appropriate comprehensive order in this regard, we would like all the stakeholders to submit their affidavits, more particularly, the State of Assam as well as the Union of India so that no inconvenience is caused to the public in either of the States especially in the light of the forthcoming festive seasons,” the high court further observed.
The matter was listed for hearing on 4 December.
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