Nasirnagar Demolition Case: Suspended Employees Summoned To Gandhinagar, Investigation Intensifies Before HC Hearing

The investigation into the Nasirnagar demolition case in Surat has intensified ahead of the Gujarat High Court hearing on September 29, with the government-appointed high-level committee summoning officials and suspended employees to Gandhinagar.

The committee has called members of the municipal inquiry panel, five suspended employees and officials from the City Survey department for questioning on Monday. The inquiry is examining the decision to demolish the Nasirnagar settlement, land subdivision, permissions and the role of various municipal officials and departments.

High-Level Committee Steps Up Probe

The Nasirnagar demolition dispute, which attracted widespread attention across Gujarat, reached the Gujarat High Court after strong opposition to the demolition in the Ved Darwaja area of Surat. Questions were raised over whether proper procedures were followed during the demolition and on what documents and permissions the municipal authorities relied upon while carrying out the action.

Following the High Court proceedings and criticism of the municipal administration, the government stepped up its investigation to establish the role and responsibility of officials connected with the case. The high-level committee headed by Principal Secretary M. Thennarasan was subsequently formed to conduct a broader inquiry into the matter.

The committee is examining the basis on which the demolition decision was taken, the status of documents related to the land, previous permissions and whether there were discrepancies between the permissions and subsequent municipal action.

Five Suspended Employees Called To Gandhinagar

Five employees from the Surat Municipal Corporation's Central Zone were suspended in connection with the demolition, including Executive Engineer Sujal Prajapati. The action was taken as part of efforts to determine whether municipal rules were followed during the demolition and to establish the responsibility of officials involved in the process.

However, Prajapati later approached the High Court challenging his suspension, adding another legal dimension to the case. Now, the government-appointed high-level inquiry committee has summoned all five suspended employees to Gandhinagar on Monday.

During the questioning, the committee is expected to seek details about the decision-making process behind the demolition, the instructions received by the employees and their respective roles in carrying out the action.

Also Read: Nasir Nagar Demolition Case: Those Responsible For Irregularities Will Face Action, says Gujarat HC

City Survey Officials Also Summoned

The inquiry has now expanded beyond municipal employees involved directly in the demolition. Officials associated with the City Survey department, including those responsible for approving the subdivision of the land in question, have also been asked to appear before the committee.

The committee is examining the land records, subdivision approvals and other documents connected with the property to determine whether the records and permissions were consistent with the subsequent municipal action.

Documents related to the disputed land and earlier permissions issued for the wider area, including PVC-related records, have also reportedly been sought from the Urban Development Department.

Former Municipal Commissioner Transferred

The case also led to the transfer of then Surat Municipal Commissioner M. Nagrajan following the High Court proceedings and the government's subsequent action.

With the investigation now covering the municipal administration, City Survey officials and other departments, the committee is examining the roles played at different stages of the process.

The inquiry is not limited to the officials who were physically involved in the demolition. It is also looking at the decision-making process and the officers or departments responsible for granting permissions and processing the land-related records.

Report Expected Before September 29 Hearing

The high-level committee has intensified its proceedings as the Gujarat High Court is scheduled to hear the petition on September 29. The questioning in Gandhinagar on Monday is expected to focus on the demolition decision, land subdivision, permissions, relevant documents and the role of municipal officials.

The committee is also seeking information and documents from other officials connected with the case.

The findings of the inquiry will indicate how responsibility is determined in the Nasir Nagar demolition case and whether further action is recommended against other officials.