The Gujarat High Court (HC) has intervened in a case involving the removal of a sanitation facility from a Gamtal land plot in Palanpur, labeling the action by the Taluka Development Officer (TDO) as “high-handed.” The court has ordered authorities to maintain the status quo until the next hearing on February 9. Justice Mauna M Bhatt reviewed the petition from 11 landowners, who claimed their rights based on Sanad, a government document certifying the land’s use.
The petitioners argued that the allegations of encroachment were unfounded, stating that the sanitation facility was built on land provided to them legally. They highlighted that the facility was developed as part of the government’s ‘Swachh Bharat Mission,’ and all relevant documents endorsing its construction are available on record. Their lawyer emphasized that the disputed construction fell within the legally allotted area and requested the court to invalidate the removal action as unlawful.
The petitioners further contended that the authorities acted without conducting any site measurements by the District Inspector of Lands Records (DILR), relying instead on a December 23, 2025, order from the HC related to a different encroachment case concerning Gauchar land in Palanpur. R B Thakor, representing the TDO and other authorities, explained that the removal process was based on this prior HC order and that a survey was conducted by the Gram Panchayat before initiating the encroachment removal.
However, the court expressed skepticism about the legality of the TDO’s actions, stating that such “high-handed” measures could not be justified without proper measurements, particularly since Sanad clearly defined the areas allotted to the petitioners. The HC directed the Talati-and-Mantri to submit an affidavit explaining the actions taken against the Gamtal land. The matter will be revisited on February 9, as the court continues to examine the case.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/encroachment-row-gujarat-hc-directs-status-quo-for-construction-on-gamtal-land-raps-official-for-high-handed-action-10459129/
Category: Ahmedabad,Cities
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Publish Date: 2026-01-07 01:34:00
