New Delhi, July 24 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Assam government authorities on a contempt petition alleging illegal demolitions of houses in Hasila Beel, Goalpara in Assam.

A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran sought responses from the Assam chief secretary and others within two weeks.

The bench, however, said, "We want to issue notice but if the government comes with a defence that it is a 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 petition, filed by eight residents of Goalpara district, alleged mass evict...