Gujarat HC order: 7 of 37 Ahmedabad families vacate Shivnagar homes after rehab deal
Synopsis
Seven Ahmedabad families have accepted a government rehab deal — new homes in Chandkheda plus ₹10,000 monthly rent until handover — and vacated their Shivnagar properties. Thirty families remain as Gujarat High Court-ordered demolitions of unauthorised constructions continue. The case spotlights how courts and local bodies are navigating the line between enforcement and displacement.
Key Takeaways
7 of 37 families in Shivnagar , Ahmedabad have accepted the government rehabilitation package and vacated their homes as of 6 June .
The Gujarat High Court directed removal of constructions exceeding the permitted 50-square-yard allotment limit.
Families originally received 50-sq-yard plots but were permitted to build on only 37.50 sq yards , with 12.50 sq yards to remain open.
The rehabilitation package includes new houses at Chandkheda and either monthly rent of ₹10,000 or temporary accommodation at Keshavnagar during the transition.
The 30 remaining families have been urged to accept the package; enforcement action will continue under court orders.
Seven of the 37 families residing in Shivnagar, near the Asaram Ashram in Ahmedabad, have accepted a government rehabilitation package and vacated their homes, as authorities pressed ahead with the removal of unauthorised constructions under directions from the Gujarat High Court. The development, confirmed on 6 June, marks the first wave of compliance in an ongoing enforcement drive in the city's west zone.
Background: How the Dispute Reached Court
According to officials, the 37 families were originally allotted plots of 50 square yards each by the government several years ago. The allotment conditions permitted construction on only 37.50 square yards, with the remaining 12.50 square yards required to be left open.
Authorities say some residents subsequently built beyond the permitted area, encroaching on government land. The Estate Department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's West Zone issued notices under applicable legal provisions, and the matter eventually came before the Gujarat High Court, which directed removal of all constructions exceeding the 50-square-yard permitted limit.
The Rehabilitation Package on Offer
Alongside enforcement, the government announced a rehabilitation-focused approach for all affected families. New houses will be allotted at Chandkheda to residents of Shivnagar and their adult family members in exchange for the land required for public purposes.
In a statement, authorities said: 'Importantly, the government has adopted a sensitive approach not only in carrying out the action but also in rehabilitating the affected families.' Until permanent housing is ready, residents can either receive monthly rent assistance of ₹10,000 or be placed in temporary accommodation at available housing units in Keshavnagar, Chandkheda.
Current Status and What Happens Next
With seven families having already accepted the package and vacated, 30 families remain. Officials confirmed they were informed on multiple occasions about the court's directions and asked to remove unauthorised structures before enforcement began. The government has appealed to the remaining residents to avail themselves of the rehabilitation package, which covers permanent housing, temporary accommodation, and transitional financial assistance.
Officials stated that enforcement action against the remaining unauthorised constructions will continue in compliance with the High Court's orders. This comes amid a broader pattern of Gujarat authorities moving to regularise encroachments on government land following judicial intervention — a process that has drawn both legal scrutiny and humanitarian concern from civil society groups.
Point of View
000 monthly rent in a city where market rents have risen sharply may not constitute genuine transitional security. The original allotments were made by the government itself, raising the question of whether the encroachment problem is partly a product of inadequate plot sizing and unclear demarcation at the time of allotment. With 30 families still holding out, the real test of this rehabilitation model is whether the Chandkheda housing is delivered on time — or whether families end up in indefinite temporary accommodation, a pattern seen in similar urban displacement drives across Indian cities.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are families being asked to vacate their homes in Shivnagar, Ahmedabad?
The Gujarat High Court directed authorities to remove constructions that exceed the permitted 50-square-yard allotment limit in Shivnagar. Some residents had built beyond their allotted 37.50 sq yards, encroaching on government land, prompting the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to initiate enforcement action.
What rehabilitation package is the Gujarat government offering affected families?
The government is offering new permanent houses at Chandkheda in exchange for the land required for public purposes. Until the new homes are ready, families can choose between monthly rent assistance of ₹10,000 or temporary accommodation at Keshavnagar in Chandkheda.
How many families have accepted the rehabilitation package so far?
Seven of the 37 affected families had accepted the package and vacated their homes as of 6 June. The remaining 30 families have been urged by authorities to come forward and avail themselves of the offer.
What happens to families who do not accept the rehabilitation package?
Officials have stated that enforcement action against unauthorised constructions will continue in compliance with the Gujarat High Court's directions, regardless of whether individual families accept the rehabilitation offer.
What was the original land allotment given to these families?
Each of the 37 families was allotted a plot of 50 square yards by the government several years ago. The allotment conditions permitted construction on only 37.50 sq yards, with 12.50 sq yards required to remain open.
