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Seeks Response on Dilapidated Rehabilitation Homes for Surat Demolition Victims
The on Monday in a petition filed by residents of Surat's Nasir Nagar, whose homes were demolished in , seeking intervention over the alleged dilapidated condition of rehabilitation homes offered by the . Justice Nikhil S. Kariel, hearing the matter, granted the corporation time to file a reply and treated the case as .
A Shift in Promises: From Jahangirpura to Adajan and Bhestan
The residents, through
, told the court that they had initially agreed to rehabilitation in Jahangirpura under the
after personally verifying that those houses were habitable. However, they now claim that the corporation has unilaterally changed the location to Adajan and Bhestan, where the offered homes are in a dilapidated condition.
"They had assured to give us houses in Jahangirpura under
. We had visited and found that they were habitable. So we agreed to that. Entire process was undertaken as if houses were to be allotted in Jahangirpura under the Yojana. No notice that destination is going to change. They were asking us to accept the houses in Adajan and Bhestan,"
Ms. Patel submitted.
Condition of Homes Under Scrutiny
Referring to photographs, the senior counsel highlighted the poor state of the alternative accommodation.
"We were assured we would be given 1BHK. Today, it is only one room and a small kitchen, that too in dilapidated condition,"
she argued. The petitioners had earlier filed a 100-page affidavit detailing their grievances, prompting the corporation to seek time to respond.
Court Grants Time, Lists Matter for September 11
, representing the corporation, raised disputed factual aspects and requested an opportunity to file a reply. Both sides jointly asked the court to treat the petition as , given the time already invested in the matter. Justice Kariel issued on , and directed the corporation to file its before the returnable date. The court accepted the registry to process the reply and noted the matter would be treated as , signaling a thorough examination of the rehabilitation process.
Broader Context of the Demolition
The case stems from a demolition drive in Surat's Nasir Nagar in , which the residents have termed illegal. Earlier, the court had questioned why the Surat Municipal Commissioner and senior police officers were allowed to continue in their posts pending an inquiry. The present hearing shifts focus to the adequacy of the rehabilitation package, raising critical questions about the state's duty to provide dignified shelter to displaced residents.
