CJ asks lawyers to pass resolution saying they are not in favour of court building on Surat outskirts

Speaking to The Indian Express, SDBA president Uday Patel said, “We made a representation before the Chief justice, stating that the government land at Jiyav Budhiya falls in the hazardous and buffer zone… While there is a chemical waste dumping site nearby, many chemical factories and textile mills are located in an area of 1 km around the plot.”

He added that according to Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) norms, no construction should be allowed within 500 sq m of a hazardous zone. “The government land falls within 300 sq m of this buffer and hazardous zone. The Chief justice has sought details from GPCB and district collector on the concerns raised by us,” said Patel.

He added, “The Chief Justice asked us if our issues are sorted out, then would we want to go to the new building proposed at Jiyav Budhiya. When the lawyers present in the meeting refused, she said that at Bhimpore, there is no residential area near the government land, no connectivity and other necessary facilities. Such a site is not suitable for a new court building, she maintained.”

Patel further said that when the lawyers spoke about other government plots in the city where the new court complex could be built, the Chief Justice said that the other plots might be stuck in litigation and do not fulfill the criteria for the court complex. “She then said that the only option left is Jiyav Budhiya… When we said that we don’t want to go there, she told the lawyers to a pass resolution and give in writing that they don’t want to go to Jiyav Budiya village, so that the land can be used for other purposes,” he added.

Meanwhile, the SDBA has called a meeting of all its members June 25 to discuss the matter. SDBA vice president Ashwin Shah said, “In the meeting, suggestions will be taken on what should be our future course of action.”