( 1 ) THIS writ petition as also the connected writ petitions (Spl. C. A. Nos. 2251, 2255, 3172, 3185, 4041 and 4384 of 1999 and Spl. C. A. No. 4202 of 1995) have been filed as Public Interest Litigations by voluntary service-oriented organisations, namely. Peoples Union of Civil liberties, Shishu Milap, Samvad, Council of Social Justice and a few individuals for and on behalf of hutment dwellers. They seek directions for their resettlement and for payment of compensation to them for their forcible removal in violation of their constitutional and human right.

( 2 ) THE petitioners who have approached individually and for and on behalf of the hutment dwellers do not dispute that the land on which they were living in their huts were public properties, belonging to the State of Gujarat and within the control of either the Municipal Corporations, Urban Development Authorities or the Housing Boards at Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

( 3 ) ON behalf of hutment dwellers, it is complained by the petitioners, some of whom are affected individuals and other service organisations, that the State and the various public authorities possessed of muscle powers through police and bu