Gujarat High Court Issues Notice Over Alleged Bulldozer Demolition In Anjar
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Gujarat High Court has sought a response from the State government and local authorities over a petition challenging the alleged demolition of eight commercial properties in Anjar, Kutch, claiming the action was carried out without following due process.
The petition concerns a demolition drive conducted by the Chief Officer of Anjar Nagarpalika on July 5, 2026. The petitioner has alleged that a commercial property, including a long-running restaurant at Devalia Naka, was demolished despite claims of lawful possession, sanctioned construction plans and regular payment of municipal taxes.
Demolition carried out after three-day notice
According to the petition, the commercial premises had remained in the petitioner’s possession for more than three decades under a valid lease that was transferred in 1988.
The petitioner has relied on sanctioned building plans and tax payment receipts submitted up to 2026 to support the claim that the property was being used lawfully.
The municipal authorities issued a show-cause notice on July 2, giving the petitioner three days to respond. A detailed reply was submitted on July 3, while representations were also sent to the authorities through WhatsApp, urging them to consider the matter before any demolition.
Despite these representations, the petitioner alleged that municipal teams arrived at the site on July 5 and demolished the properties.
Plea cites constitutional rights and Supreme Court directions
The petition claims that the action by the municipal chief officer was arbitrary and violated constitutional protections under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 300-A.
It also argues that the demolition was contrary to directions issued by the Supreme Court in November 2024 concerning the manner in which authorities must deal with bulldozer demolitions.
The petitioner has asked the High Court to declare the demolition unconstitutional and prevent authorities from carrying out similar action without following the required legal procedure.
Petitioner seeks compensation and reconstruction
Apart from challenging the demolition itself, the petitioner has sought compensation for the financial and reputational losses allegedly suffered because of the action.
The plea also seeks an order directing the authorities to reconstruct the demolished premises.
The Gujarat High Court has issued notice to the State government and the concerned municipal authorities. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on October 5, 2026.
