The Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) launched a 3-day mega demolition drive on 23 February 2026, removing 1,400 settlements across a 2.5-km stretch in the Aji and Khokhaddari areas of Gujarat. According to the Rajkot Urban Development Authority (RUDA), the settlements were located within Town Planning Scheme No. 6, covering Plot Nos. 133, 134, 137, and 159. On 5 March 2014, a work order was granted to H.C.P. Design, Planning, and Management Pvt. Ltd, Ahmedabad, to prepare the master plan for the Aji Riverfront project. The project was proposed to be implemented in three phases. Environmental Clearance was obtained during the first phase, while the next phases involving approvals from the concerned government departments and the preparation of detailed designs and tender documents remained under preparation until February.
In 2025, the corporation also issued notices to 495 houses in Jangleshwar, which were believed to be connected to the opening of a Municipal town-planning road. However, the demolition plan was stalled as residents started demanding alternative rehabilitation. In this case, the authorities ensured that due process was followed and that sufficient time was given to the residents to provide residential evidence. In December 2025, homeowners submitted their electricity bills and tax receipts when the government asked residents to provide proof of their residential status. Soon after, the residents and affected families gathered outside local collector offices to protest the sudden displacement. Opposition figures from the Indian National Congress joined the protest after the eviction notice was sent to the residents.
In January 2026, the Rajkot City (East) Mamlatdar's office issued final eviction notices to more than 7,000 residents of the Aji and Khokhaddari area, directing them to vacate the land within seven days of receiving the notice. The final order was served to people of seven localities, including Jangleshwar, Buddhanagar, Radhakrishnanagar, Nalodanagar, and Siddharthnagar, under Section 202 of the Bombay Land Revenue Act, 1879. Under this provision, the Collector is empowered to evict anyone who is in wrongful possession of government land or properties. Rajkot authorities alleged that the houses had been constructed through illegal encroachment of government land, with the structure covering 1.05 lakh square metres of land area.
Authorities said that rehabilitation efforts had been underway for several years, with more than 800 families already allotted alternative housing under various government schemes. Despite these schemes, many residents said they faced difficulties in finding alternative accommodation. Aslambhai, a resident of Jangleshwar, told Divya Bhaskar Digital, “The notice issued by the district administration is illegal. I have a document from 1989, proving that I purchased the house on Street 7 in the area. The claim of illegal encroachment is wrong because people have been living here since 1950.”
Residents also mentioned how securing a house in the locality was difficult with the Ashant Dhara Act implemented across Jangleshwar and adjacent regions like Maninagar, Paldi, and Bapunagar. The provision allowed the transfer of property ownership, including transfers between immediate family members such as spouses, sons, and daughters, only after approval from the District Collector and the police. Residents mentioned that this further complicated the process, increasing the cost when attempting to secure a house in the locality. Several residents also mentioned that they were preparing to approach the Gujarat High Court seeking a stay on the demolition.
According to City Engineer Paresh Adhia of the RMC, no riverfront work was currently underway near Jangleshwar, Buddhanagar, or Nalodanagar. While a ₹1,181-crore riverfront project had been proposed near the Ramnath Mahadev temple, he said the site was nearly two kilometres away, and the project was still at a preliminary stage.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for rehabilitation
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Dwelling/habitation use
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other, Other, Case Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Gujarat High Court
Case Number
R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 2301 of 2026; R/WRIT PETITION (PIL) NO. 18 of 2025
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Rajkot Municipal Corporation
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
