Ahmedabad Court summons AMC officials over failure to demolish illegal constructions in Ghuma

The Ahmedabad Rural Court has issued summons to two officials of the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for allegedly failing to demolish illegal constructions on agricultural land in the Ghuma area despite an order by the district collector.

The summons were issued to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the South-West Zone and the Deputy Estate Officer of the same zone. The court has directed both officials to appear before it on March 20.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate C K Rathod of the Ahmedabad Rural Court also asked the officials to present a detailed explanation regarding the matter during the next hearing.

The case stems from a complaint filed by retired additional district judge G H Desai, a resident of the Aarohi Plot Owners Association in the Ghuma area.

Desai approached the village court, alleging that illegal constructions had been carried out on agricultural land bearing Survey No. 808. According to the complaint, nine commercial shops and a party plot had been built on the land without obtaining prior permission from the civic body.

The complainant told the court that repeated representations were made to the concerned authorities, including the municipal corporation, but no action was taken against the alleged encroachments.

Following the lack of response, Desai filed a petition before the Gujarat High Court. During the proceedings, the High Court issued notices to the parties concerned, including the Ahmedabad district collector.

Subsequently, in 2024, the collector directed the civic authorities to remove the illegal constructions on the agricultural land in Ghuma.

The order also imposed a penalty of ₹10.57 lakh on the alleged occupants of the land, identified as Rakeshbhai Patle and Hiteshbhai Patel.

Despite the directive, the constructions were not demolished, prompting the complainant to approach the rural court. After hearing the matter, the court issued notices under Section 223(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to the concerned AMC officials, seeking their explanation.