Snehanjali Society dispute: Contempt petition filed in Supreme Court

In a major twist to the Snehanjali Society dispute in Ahmedabad, a new entity named 'Nidhi Society' has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has directed Snehanjali Society in Thaltej ward to either deposit ₹41 crore, as per the prevailing jantri rates, with the municipal corporation or hand over possession of the open plot to AMC by September 30, 2024.

Residents of Snehanjali Society have agreed to shift temporarily to residential units in Sardar Patel Nagar, Naranpura, as part of an interim arrangement. They have also given an undertaking to pay rent as decided by the Gujarat Housing Board or the municipal corporation.

Background of the case

In 2003, Nidhi Society filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court seeking possession of the open plot. Over the years, Snehanjali Society and Nidhi Society have filed multiple cases against each other and against AUDA in the City Civil Court and the high court.

As residents had been living on the land for years, AUDA revised the town planning scheme and reserved the land for residential use, deciding that Snehanjali Society would pay the amount fixed by AUDA’s land price fixation committee. Accordingly, Snehanjali Society was required to pay ₹79 crore.

Later, as the area came under the limits of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, AUDA asked the corporation to resolve the matter.

High court and Supreme Court orders

Due to failure to deposit the amount or vacate the plot, the municipal corporation moved the High Court. In a common judgment, the High Court directed Snehanjali Society to deposit the amount or hand over possession of the land by December 31, 2023.

Subsequently, Snehanjali Society approached the Supreme Court. The apex court modified the order, directing the society to deposit ₹41 crore instead of ₹79 crore as per the prevailing jantri rates, or hand over possession of the open plot to the corporation by September 30, 2024.