Guwahati, June 10 -- The Guwahati High Court has reaffirmed the constitutional obligation of the Assam government to remove encroachments from reserved forests and protect the environment, while granting alleged encroachers 30 days to vacate forest land in a significant judgment concerning reserved forest areas in the state.

A single-judge bench of Justice Devashis Baruah delivered the verdict in a batch of petitions challenging speaking orders issued against alleged encroachers in reserved forests, including Lutumai and Barpani Reserved Forests.

"It is the constitutional obligation cast upon the State to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife," the court observed.

The court granted the petitioner...