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Land acquisition for development project ‘Palace of Sachin’: Take no coercive action, HC directs Surat civic body

Royal family moved court seeking direction to preserve palace from demolition.

2 min readUpdated: Jan 10, 2026 02:09 PM IST

The Gujarat High Court has ordered the Surat Municipal Corporation not to take any coercive action against the Palace of Sachin in a land acquisition dispute. (Image via Summer Palace Dumas)

The Gujarat High Court on Friday directed that the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) take “no coercive action” in the case of the Palace of Sachin in Surat, following a plea by members of the royal family of the Nawab of Sachin over the land acquisition process initiated by the SMC for a development project.

The plea, moved by Sidi Mohammed Reza Khan, Sidi Mohammed Faisal Khan and Farah Nasrulla Khan against the SMC and the Executive Engineer of the South Zone B Kanakpur seeks direction to the SMC to alter the marking of the land acquisition to preserve the palace from demolition.

The court considered the submissions of the Senior Advocate, who appeared for the petitioners, stating that they “agreed to surrender” an open area plot or “willing to shift the line a little upwards so that the palace is not demolished.” The advocate appearing for SMC submitted that action would be initiated after the petitioners surrendered the land.

The court, orally in an order, issued a notice and directed the SMC to take “no coercive” action. “The (petitioner) has submitted that pursuant to a notice dated October 29, 2025, the possession of the area of land which the petitioner has surrendered is directed to be taken within a period of seven days. The petitioners are not against surrender of the land. The only request… for surrender in upward measurement would save the constructed palace… or alternative land available to the petitioner.”

The court issued notice to the SMC and orally directed, “No coercive action with regard to construction of a palace which is subject of this petition to be taken till the next date of hearing.”
The court will hear the matter on February 23.

Quasre Sultan Summer Palace

The Quasre Sultan Summer Palace or the Palace of Sachin is a testimony of the opulence and cultural heritage of the Sachin dynasty, which has Abyssinian roots. As per the official website of the palace the palace was “envisioned as a serene retreat for the Nawabs”. Constructed between 1905 and 1911 by Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Khan III under the , the palace is a harmonious reflection of early Indo-French Gothic architecture.

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More