AHMEDABAD: Gujarat High Court, on Monday, came down heavily on Vadodara municipal commissioner MK Das in connection with a demolition drive and rebuked him saying, “Encroachment takes place in cities because of your negligence.”

Hearing a case filed by People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) after Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) demolished houses in Dholikui area despite court’s instruction that the 540 residents should be provided alternative arrangement first, a bench headed by Chief Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya pulled up authorities. However, the court also observed that immigrants to cities like Ahmedabad and Vadodara are not landless. Nowadays, the government have policies like NREGA so that people do not have to leave their villages.

The judges also made oral observation that there should be schemes to provide shelter to those who are landless.

Earlier this month, VMC demolished 77 structures in a locality in Dholikui without providing them any alternative shelter. After PUCL approached high court, the commissioner was summoned, who was asked to discuss the issue with collector and provide temporary shelter to residents.

The commissioner has also been asked to see that after proper discussion between urban development department and revenue department, a permanent alternative arrangement is done for the residents. He has been asked to file an affidavit in this regard by Friday, when further hearing is scheduled.