High Court Clears Way For Chandola Lake Demolition In Ahmedabad, Rejects Residents’ Plea

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has rejected a petition seeking a stay on the ongoing demolition drive at Chandola Lake, clearing the way for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and police to continue their operation against illegal encroachments. The plea, filed by 18 residents, alleged the demolitions were being carried out unlawfully and without due process.

A 90-minute hearing was conducted by the High Court between 11:15 AM and 12:45 PM on Monday. The petitioners, represented by senior advocate Anand Yagnik, argued that the residents were not proven to be illegal immigrants, and that no formal notices or rehabilitation plans had been provided before the demolition began. “Even if someone is found to be staying illegally, a minimum 15-day notice must be served,” Yagnik said. He emphasized that decisions regarding a person’s citizenship fall under the jurisdiction of the Foreigners Tribunal, not the police or civic body.

The High Court, however, sided with the state, citing broader national security concerns. Government counsel submitted that the area had become a hub for criminal activities such as drug trafficking, prostitution, and alleged links to terror outfits. Authorities claimed four individuals from the area had been arrested for ties to Al-Qaeda, and that children were being coerced into exploitation networks. 

AMC officials reported that roughly 50–60% of the illegal structures in the Chandola Lake area have already been demolished. Bharat Parmar, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of AMC’s South Zone, shared that the operation is ongoing. Out of the estimated 1,500 to 2,000 encroachments, half have been cleared. Multiple teams across seven zones, in coordination with the police, are involved in the demolition.

Though the petitioners were denied a stay, the court left the door open for them to pursue future legal avenues regarding rehabilitation. For now, however, the drive continues amid heavy police deployment and increased scrutiny over the lake’s illegal settlements.