Ongoing Land Dispute at Nazira Subsidiary Health Centre Remains Unresolved

The Nazira Subsidiary Health Centre is embroiled in a long-standing land encroachment dispute, with a woman claiming ownership despite multiple court rulings against her. Established in 1944, the health centre's expansion is hindered by this unresolved issue, which has sparked public protests and raised questions about the legitimacy of land documents issued to the claimant. As the situation continues to unfold, the community is left wondering about the future of this vital health facility.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 2, 2026, 11:33 IST

Land Encroachment Issue at Nazira Health Centre

Nazira Subsidiary Health Centre. (Photo: Meta/)

NAZIRA, Nov 2: The Nazira Subsidiary Health Centre (NSHC) has been facing a persistent land encroachment issue, with a woman claiming ownership of the property for many years. Despite a ruling from the Gauhati High Court that dismissed her appeal for ownership rights over part of the NSHC land, the situation remains unresolved.

Established in 1944, the health centre occupies a plot measuring four bighas, one katha, and 13 lechas, identified by Dag no. 571 and plot numbers 51 and 52 in Janghal Bari Grant under Nazira Mouza. The claimant, Parvati Karmakar Rabha, asserts that she owns a portion of this land, specifically three kathas and six lechas, which overlaps with the NSHC's territory.

The land originally belonged to the Assam Company from 1839 to 1953, which leased it to the NSHC, as indicated by a sale deed in favor of ONGC.

The issue of land encroachment surfaced in 2000 when the NSHC sought to build a boundary wall funded by Rajya Sabha MP Drupad Borgohain. Parvati halted the construction, presenting land documents (patta) that she claimed proved her ownership. This led to public outcry, with many accusing the Nazira circle officer's office of issuing fraudulent land documents to her.

Parvati is the daughter of Sukhdev Karmakar, a former Grade-IV employee of the health centre who was permitted to live in government quarters on the NSHC premises. Although Sukhdev retired in 1997, he has not vacated the quarters.

In the late 1990s, Parvati applied to the additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Sivasagar district under the Assam Tenancy Act, seeking ownership of the disputed land. On January 7, 1999, the ADC ordered the issuance of a periodic patta to her. However, on June 27, 2000, the ADC revised this order, stating that only four lechas could be granted to her on humanitarian grounds.

Parvati subsequently appealed to the Assam Board of Revenue, which dismissed her case on January 3, 2001, directing her to approach the civil court. The revenue court ruled that the ADC lacked the authority to issue the patta. Parvati then escalated the matter to the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sivasagar, where her petition was rejected on March 30, 2001, for failing to establish a prima facie case for an injunction.

Ultimately, Parvati took her case to the Gauhati High Court, which dismissed her writ petition on May 20, 2003, due to non-prosecution.

Despite multiple court rulings and public pressure, authorities have yet to reclaim the NSHC land from Parvati Karmakar Rabha. This encroachment has hindered the potential expansion of the health centre, which is crucial given the increasing population in Nazira co-district.

Siba Gogoi