The Gauhati High Court cleared the Silchar Municipal Corporation election by dismissing petitions challenging its constitution, allowing the election to proceed.
The much-awaited Silchar Municipal Corporation election is set to take place after the Gauhati High Court dismissed petitions challenging its formation. On Tuesday evening, Justice Debashish Barua ruled in favor of constituting the Silchar Municipal Corporation, rejecting five separate writ petitions filed against the move.
The petitions had been filed after the Assam government issued a Gazette notification in October 2022, officially forming the Silchar Municipal Corporation, which consists of 42 wards and spans 70 square kilometers. The move was based on a proposal by the then-Cachar Deputy Commissioner, Rohan Kumar Jha, in 2022. Previously, the Silchar Municipality covered only 16 square kilometers, but with the formation of the Municipal Corporation, it now includes areas from Chatla Haor to Udharbond and parts of Barkhola, encompassing a population of 326,907, according to the 2011 census.
However, the decision to expand the municipality faced opposition, with 46 objections submitted to the government. Residents from areas like Konokpur, Hatichara, Topkhana, Machughat, and Dudpatil filed writ petitions to the Gauhati High Court, questioning the boundary demarcations and other issues related to the corporation’s formation. The legal battle lasted two years, but after multiple hearings, the court ruled in favor of the Municipal Corporation’s constitution, clearing the way for the election.
This decision marks a significant milestone for Silchar, as the newly formed Municipal Corporation is expected to enhance governance and public services in the area. Local residents are now preparing for the upcoming elections, which will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the city.