Gujarat
,
Sayan
,
Surat
Published :
|
Updated :
Dispute erupts after officials demolish alleged encroachment by Jumma Masjid Trust in Surat
Reported by
Suchak Patel
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Sourabh Rai, Amrita Chekkutty
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2025
Year started
ha.
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2025
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Encroachment by Non-Right Holders (Other than Caste-based)
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban
Ended
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Encroachment by Non-Right Holders (Other than Caste-based)
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban
Ended
1
Summary

A fresh land ownership dispute has surfaced in Sayan village of Surat district, where authorities removed a barbed-wire fence and a chicken shop located near a Muslim graveyard, claiming the land was government-owned and had been encroached upon by the local Jumma Masjid trust.

The operation, led by officials from the Olpad Taluka Mamlatdar office along with police personnel and local representatives, followed an order from Surat District Collector. According to the administration, district land record (DLR) officials verified that the parcel of land—bearing block number 606—was classified as government land and had been used in the past for storing agricultural produce.

However, the Jumma Masjid trust contested the demolition, asserting that the land had been in its possession for many years and that the fencing was erected lawfully. Trust members claimed that they had been paying taxes on the land to the Sayan Gram Panchayat and objected to the DLR’s measurement process, alleging they were not given a chance to be present when the inspection took place.

"We are not satisfied with the land measurement done by the officials. The land has been with the trust for a long time, and we have submitted an objection to the district collector," said Ebuh Manakh, a representative of the Jumma Masjid trust, Indian Express Reported.

Local panchayat officials, including Sarpanch Shailesh Patel, Talati Bharat Chaudhary, and Olpad Taluka Panchayat member Dipesh Patel, had earlier held discussions with the trust, requesting them to vacate the land voluntarily. The trust declined, citing ownership.

Following the demolition, the trust filed a formal complaint with the district collector's office and is seeking a re-examination of the land records. The chicken shop removed during the drive was not owned by the trust but operated from within the fenced area. District officials maintained that the action was part of a routine effort to reclaim public land.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Complaint against procedural violations

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban

Type of Land

Private

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?

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

Religious/Sacred/Cultural value

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

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?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Complaint against procedural violations

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

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?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Religious/Sacred/Cultural value

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

JOIN
THE LCW COMMUNITY
Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


Support our work.
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