Assam, Aug. 18 -- The Gauhati High Court has raised concerns over the issue of land allotment in the Dima Hasao district of Assam to a private company. This relates to the allotment of nearly 3,000 bighas of land in the district linked to a Mahabal Cements for mining purposes.

During the hearing, Justice Sanjay Kumar Medhi expressed astonishment at the scale of the land grant, remarking, "3,000 bighas! The entire district? What is going on? 3,000 bighas allotted to a private company? We know how barren the land is. 3,000 bighas? What kind of decision is this? Is this some kind of joke or what? Your need is not the issue; the public interest is the issue."

The judge noted that the land in question lies in Dima Hasao, a district covered b...