Ahmedabad: The division bench of the Gujarat High Court, led by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D.N. Ray, on Tuesday rejected an appeal challenging the demolition of illegal structures built on Isanpur lake land. The bench upheld the earlier single-judge ruling that described the constructions as unauthorised encroachments on a water body.

With this decision, the High Court has validated the eviction notices issued by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) to occupants who had settled on the lake land. The court noted that the plot is officially recorded in revenue documents as talav (lake) and belongs to the AMC.

Dismissing the appellants’ arguments of long-term occupation and tax payments, the bench clarified that such claims do not establish lawful ownership over government land or a water body. The court also reiterated that no construction is legally permissible on a lake and refused to stay the AMC’s 21-day eviction notice.

The dismissal comes just days after the civic body carried out a large-scale demolition drive in the area, removing illegal encroachments and razing over 900 houses built without permission. Around 10 residents had approached the High Court against the eviction and demolition, which has now been upheld by the court. DeshGujarat