Court pulls up Gujarat government on land sale
By IANSFriday, February 4, 2011
GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Friday came down heavily on the state government and a civic body for allowing construction on a water body in Dhandhuka city of Ahmedabad district.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice K.M. Thaker condemned the authorities for allowing auction of land where a water body exists as per revenue records.
The court questioned the collector of Ahmedabad and Dhandhuka Municipality in this regard and sought to know why demolition should not be ordered.
The bench told the respondents’ counsel to submit details of those who have purchased the land and constructed commercial complexes or residences there so that they could also be named as respondents.
The bench said that even if there was no water in a demarcated water body, it did not mean that no water body existed.
Petitioner Rahimbhai Kalubhai, a farmer, filed a public interest litigation through advocate Kirtidev Dave. He challenged the governments act of selling a portion of the land of Sarvasa pond in Dhandhuka.
The government admitted that the permission for the construction was given to 30 buildings after giving away the land in auction.
Further hearing is set for Feb 10.
