Gujarat High Court Demands Accountability for Surat Shanties Demolition

The Gujarat High Court on Thursday questioned the state government, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), and Torrent Power over the demolition of nearly 150 homes in Surat's Nasirnagar area in May, with no authority taking responsibility for the action.

Residents of the slum in the Ved Darwaja area approached the High Court earlier this month, alleging that bulldozers razed their shanties without notice or any demolition order, and that the operation was carried out under police protection. The SMC has denied carrying out the demolition, while local BJP MLA Vinu Moradiya called the episode “something fishy,” deepening the mystery over who authorised the operation.

Hearing the petition, Justice Nikhil Kariel orally observed that even the “demolition of a single house” without due process could not be countenanced. The court directed the SMC to prepare a “definite rehabilitation plan” for the displaced residents by Monday, pending the petition’s decision. “I will not hear a submission that you do not have accommodation. Rent tents if you have to… The axe has to fall, and it will,” Justice Kariel remarked orally.

The court also asked the government to explain why a deputy commissioner of police rank officer and municipal officials were allegedly present at the site if the demolition was, as authorities claimed, not an official exercise. Through Government Pleader G H Virk, the court demanded a personal affidavit from the Surat police commissioner by Monday, explaining the police response to residents’ complaints.

“If the commissioner is informed that 150 houses have been demolished, either he says it was an official demolition by the Corporation, or he explains why no FIR has been registered… The (Commissioner) cannot choose to ignore such allegations,” the court orally stated.

Justice Kariel further noted that if the petitioners’ allegation that a deputy commissioner of police was present is found correct, that officer would have to appear personally before the court. However, if the demolition was officially sanctioned, such an appearance would not be necessary.

The court also orally directed Torrent Power to clarify who instructed it to disconnect electricity to the shanties. It said the company’s response could help determine whether the instructions originated from the Corporation or private individuals.

Observing “conflicting positions” taken by the authorities, the court emphasised the need for governmental accountability if a large-scale demolition occurred without due process. It referred to recent Supreme Court pronouncements mandating due process before demolitions and pressed authorities to explain who authorised the exercise, why municipal and police personnel were allegedly present, and why no criminal case was registered despite complaints.

The court orally stated that two possibilities emerge from the material: either the SMC carried out the demolition in violation of legal process, or municipal officials acted without authorization. The matter is scheduled for next hearing on June 29, 2026.