Members of a housing society in Ahmedabad have levelled serious allegations of collusion and procedural irregularities against officials of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The complaint centres on the illegal regularisation of two houses constructed on government land, with society members claiming their society's name was falsely used to legitimise the process.
Core Allegations and the GRUDA Act Appeal
The controversy involves House No. 67 and House No. 68 built on Final Plot No. 59 in Chandlodia, which falls under the Ghatlodia ward. The members of the Devmandir Co-operative Housing Society allege that officials from the AMC's North West Zone collected impact fees to regularise these illegally built structures in May 2024 by falsely referencing their society.
Tired of the alleged malpractice, the society members, led by Natwarlal Panchal and backed by eight other members, filed a formal appeal on December 22, 2024. This appeal was submitted before the Appellate Authority in Gandhinagar under the Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development Act, 2022 (GRUDA Act–2022).
Discrepancy in Land Records and Official Collusion
The heart of the complaint lies in a glaring discrepancy. The regularisation order explicitly mentions 'Devmandir Co-operative Housing Society' and 'Final Plot No. 60'. However, a detailed investigation into the society's revenue records revealed that the two houses in question are not located on the society's land, which spans 8114 square meters on Final Plot No. 60.
Instead, the constructions stand on adjacent Final Plot No. 59, which is government land reserved for deduction. The complaint emphatically states, "A crucial point is that the land was allotted to the government, and according to Form F, the collector's right is also indicated on this land. Under these circumstances, the regularisation of a private house is illegal and suspicious."
Demands for Action and Ongoing Hearings
Based on these findings, the society members have demanded the immediate cancellation of the impact fee applications that facilitated this regularisation. Furthermore, they have called for strict legal action against three officials from the AMC's North West Zone office, whom they accuse of active collusion in the matter.
The legal process is underway, with five hearings already conducted in this case. The most recent hearing was held on December 25, 2024. The case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of regularisation laws and the integrity of civic processes in urban development.
