The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Assam government authorities in response to a contempt petition alleging unlawful demolitions of homes in Hasila Beel, Goalpara district, ANI reported.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran sought responses from the Assam Chief Secretary and other officials within two weeks.

 “We want to issue notice but if the government comes with a defence that it is government land, then we have already said that our order will not be applicable to land which are owned by the government, any encroachment on the streets, public place, abutting rivers and abutting water bodies,” the apex court bench said.