Guwahati, June 28 -- The Gauhati High Court has dismissed a batch of appeals filed by settlers challenging eviction from three reserve forests in Assam's Nagaon district, holding that "genuine hardship cannot by itself create a legal right over reserved forest land."

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury upheld an earlier order of a single judge, which had dismissed writ petitions challenging speaking orders issued by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Nagaon Division.

The DFO had concluded that the appellants were in unauthorised occupation of land within the notified Barapani, Lutumari and Kaki Reserve Forests and directed consequential action in accordance with law.

Appearing for t...