- (1.) Heard Mr. R. De, learned Counsel for the petitioner and Mr. M. Bhagawati, learned Government Advocate for the respondents.
(2.) By way of this petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioner seeks a direction to the respondents to pay interest @ 18% per annum for delayed payment of compensation for illegal eviction.
(3.) Basic facts are not in dispute. Therefore, a detailed factual narration is considered not necessary. Suffice it to say that on 21.05.2002, officials of the Forest Department, Government of Assam carried out an eviction operation in the Modghoria area of Guwahati city on the ground that there was encroachment in the Hengrabari Reserve Forest. In the eviction operation, the Assam type house constructed by the petitioner comprising of 9 rooms where he stayed with his family since 1997-98 was demolished.;