Surat civic chief transferred over 2 months after controversial demolitions

In Surat, the municipal chief was transferred over two months following a highly controversial demolition drive in Nasirnagar slums. The state government's action report on the incident is scheduled for submission in the Gujarat High Court soon. Nagarajan, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) Commissioner, was moved to the post of State Project Director in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan in Gandhinagar.

Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar now heads the SMC. Ranjeeth Kumar, who was previously the Project Director for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and acting secretary of Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission, has taken full charge of the latter.

During a hearing on May 30, Judge Nikhil Kariel inquired why senior officials, including Nagarajan and police officers, remained in their positions despite an inquiry probing their possible role in the demolition of numerous shanties in Nasirnagar on the same day. The court ordered the state to respond by August 14, stating that if the SMC deemed the demolitions justified, the officers involved must "go home."

On that fateful day, a team from SMC's Central Zone was in Nasirnagar under the pretext of demarcating a 40-ft road proposed by a private entity. Accompanying them were Surat Police personnel, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajdeepsinh Nakum, and Torrent Power Ltd. officials. Over 106 houses were demolished without prior notice. Nagarajan later posted a video on social media, claiming the demolition was not carried out by SMC.

Twenty-six affected individuals filed a petition in the High Court questioning the "ghost demolition" on June 8. Nagarajan formed a six-member committee to probe allegations involving SMC officials. On June 11, Ashish Naik, an additional city engineer with SMC, also posted a video claiming the demolitions were carried out "as per the rules and regulations." Nagarajan subsequently stated that the demolitions were conducted by SMC officials from the Central Zone.

Following the probe team's findings, SMC Municipal Commissioner suspended five officials involved in the demolitions on July 1: Executive Engineer (Civil) Sujalkumar Prajapati, Executive Engineer (Civil) Jayang Jivramjiwala, Deputy Engineer (Civil) Arpan Mansukh Parmar, Assistant Engineer (Civil) Maunik Gadhiya, and Assistant Engineer (Civil) Nareshkumar Galchar.

Prajapati has since challenged his suspension in the High Court. Over 150 families were subsequently relocated to the Bharimata community hall near the demolition site. SMC Commissioner directed them to be shifted to EWS quarters at Jehangirpura, but the survey remains ongoing.