U-turn on free homes: HC asks Surat civic duo why criminal contempt should not follow

Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court on Friday came down heavily on Surat municipal commissioner and the civic body’s standing committee chairman for backtracking on their assurance to provide free houses to 28 families who lost their homes in the illegal demolition at Nasir Nagar, Surat, in May. The court summoned the two officials again to explain why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for reversing their earlier stand.

The matter is listed on Nov 27. The municipal commissioner and chairman of the standing committee both of who have taken decision as regards not providing any alternative accommodation to the persons whose residences have been demolished shall remain present before this court on the said date and explain why this court should not take out proceedings for criminal contempt against the officers in question,” the court order stated.

Justice Nikhil Kariel had summoned Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) commissioner Rajkumar Beniwal and standing committee chairman Rajan Patel after the civic body decided to provide alternative housing to the 28 affected families under a JNURM scheme.

However, SMC decided to charge the families for the accommodation instead of providing it free of cost, contrary to the assurance given earlier by advocate general Kamal Trivedi on behalf of the civic body.