India, Feb. 12 -- The Supreme Court has ordered the status quo on evictions in Assam's reserved and protected forests, directing that lands occupied by tribal communities and traditional forest dwellers be preserved until detailed orders are passed and the statutory 15-day notice period expires. The judgment came in the case of Abdul Khalek & Ors. v. The State of Assam & Ors. [2026 INSC 140], which consolidated a series of civil appeals and writ petitions challenging eviction drives in several reserved forests, including Doyang, South Nambar, Jamuna Madunga, Barpani, Lutumai, and Golaghat.

A bench comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe observed that while the State has a constitutional obligation to protec...