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The Gujarat High Court has sharply questioned the state government and Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) over the demolition of nearly 100 houses in Surat's Nasir Nagar, observing that the action appeared to have been carried out without following due legal procedure. The court has sought a rehabilitation plan for the affected families and asked civic authorities to explain how residents were rendered homeless. The case has also prompted disciplinary action against civic officials, placing renewed focus on accountability and procedural safeguards in demolition drives.
Demolition drives aimed at removing unauthorised structures often trigger legal disputes, but when questions arise over whether due process itself was followed, the spotlight shifts from encroachment to governance. Such is the case in Surat, where the Gujarat High Court has raised serious concerns over the demolition of around 100 homes in Nasir Nagar. The court's intervention has brought issues of administrative accountability, rehabilitation of displaced residents and adherence to legal procedures to the forefront of public debate.
The Gujarat High Court has questioned the state government's stand on the demolition of nearly 100 residential structures in Surat's Nasir Nagar, observing that the action appeared to have been undertaken without complying with established legal procedures. During the hearing, the court sought explanations from the authorities and emphasised that the affected families could not simply be left without shelter if the demolition was found to be unlawful.
The bench directed the Surat Municipal Commissioner to submit a detailed rehabilitation plan for the displaced residents, asking the civic body to clarify what measures were being considered to restore or compensate for the housing lost during the demolition drive. The court also examined whether mandatory notices, hearings and procedural safeguards had been properly followed before the structures were razed.
The demolition, carried out by the Surat Municipal Corporation, reportedly left around 100 families homeless. Residents approached the High Court alleging that their homes were demolished without adequate notice or an opportunity to challenge the action. The petitioners argued that the civic body's actions violated principles of natural justice and deprived families of shelter without due legal recourse.
Taking note of the court's observations, the state government informed the bench that disciplinary action had been initiated against officials involved in the exercise. Subsequently, five engineers associated with the Surat Municipal Corporation were suspended pending further inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the demolition and whether established procedures had been ignored.
During the proceedings, the High Court questioned the government's position on the incident and remarked that if the demolition was indeed carried out illegally, the authorities could not evade responsibility for its consequences. The bench observed that the administration would need to address the plight of families who had lost their homes and place before the court a concrete plan for rehabilitation or alternative accommodation.
The case has reignited debate over the conduct of demolition drives across urban areas, particularly regarding compliance with statutory procedures, advance notice requirements and rehabilitation obligations. The outcome of the proceedings is expected to have wider implications for how civic bodies execute future enforcement actions, balancing urban planning objectives with the constitutional rights and procedural protections available to residents.
Source PTI
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