JUDGMENT :

Arup Kumar Goswami, J.

1. Heard Mr. M.K. Das, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. K.K. Parasar, learned Central Government Counsel appearing for respondent No.1; Mr. T.C. Chutia, learned State counsel for respondent Nos.2, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12; Ms. A. Devi, learned counsel for respondent No.3; Mr. S. Dutta, learned Standing Counsel, Environment & Forest appearing for respondent No.4; Ms. S. Sarma, learned Standing Counsel, Health & Family Welfare for respondent No.5 and Mr. S. Biswas, learned Standing Counsel, Education for respondent No.7. None appears for respondent No.9, though the name of the counsel is shown in the cause list.

2. The six petitioners have approached this Court, essentially, praying for protection as well as conferment of rights and extension of various facilities to the inhabitants of border area of Assam and Meghalaya beyond Garbhanga Forest Reserve. The prayer portion of the petition is extracted herein below:-

"It is therefore prayed that Your Lordships would be pleased to admit this application, call for the records and issue a Rule upon the respondents to show cause as to why a writ in the nature of Mandamus should not be issued to the respondent authorities to protect and provide all the rights and facilities to the inhabitant of the remote boarder area of Meghalaya and Assam beyond the Garbhanga Forest Area mentioned in this petition And/or as to why a writ in the nature of Mandamus and/or any other appropriate writ(s), order(s) and/or direction(s) of the like nature shall not be issued thereby

(a) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no.1 to take initiatives and make all the arrangement to provide with all the facilities to the remote inhabitants in the disturbed border area of Meghalaya and Assam beyond the Garbhanga Forest Area.

(b) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no. 2,3,4,6 & 10 to sort out all the quarries to start the construction work of the road (length = 21 km.) as approved under CM's Special Package, special focus on construction of border area roads and bridge, where an amount of Rs. 2222.35 lakhs (Rupees Twenty two crore twenty two lakh thirty five thousand only) has been approved in the annual plan 2012-13, without any further delay.

(c) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no. 2 & 4 to issue the land patta under the Forest Rights Act,2006 to the inhabitants of that area.

(d) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no.5 to avail all the health facilities to the inhabitants of that area, including all the emergency services with a permanent 10 bed hospital with all the facilities with permanent doctor.

(e) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no.7 to establish high schools in that area and further to arrange communication facilities so that the children of the area got the chance to participate & compete in the education facilities available in the downstream area of Kamrup district.

(f) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no.8, to provide with the electricity facilities, till the date of arrangement of the same provide solar facilities to the inhabitants of the areas, mentioned in the present petition.

(g) directing the respondent authorities, more particularly the respondent no.9, to provide with all the telecom facilities to the inhabitants of the areas, mentioned in the present petition."

3. The petitioners project that this petition is filed in the interest of the people of villages, namely, Garbhanga, New Garbhanga, Pahamjilla, Jalukpaham, Matang, Numali Pathar, Dumu Paham, Nung Tari, Kayang Pathar, Deka Pathar, Amring, Ulubare, Utpaham, Barpani, Bhalulkhuwa, which are situated beyond Garbhanga Forest Area in between border of Meghalaya and Assam. The area is