Won't Let Surat Corporation Back Out From Agreement To Rehabilitate Residents Whose Homes Were Razed

The Gujarat High Court on Friday (October 9) orally remarked that it will not permit Surat Municipal Corporation, which it said had earlier agreed to provide accommodation to residents whose homes were razed during an "illegal" demolition drive in June, to attempt to back out of the agreement.

Previously, Surat Municipal Corporation had vehemently disputed the claim of residents affected by the "illegal" demolition of homes in Nasir Nagar area that the alternative accommodation offered to them was in a “dilapidated” condition.

Justice Nikhil S Kariel was hearing a petition filed by a group of residents concerning the demolition drive carried out in the area in June.

During the hearing, the court while granting the time to the Corporation's counsel to come back with instructions orally said:"The idea which I am getting from the Corporation, it was agreed before this court that we will give accommodation. Now if the Corporation is attempting to back out, I will not permit it.

We are looking at accommodation. The how, was your problem. The accommodation was for sure. The Corporation had agreed through learned Advocate General that these people will be accommodated. Now if the Corporation is trying to go back...