Gujarat questioned on rights of displaced villagers
By IANSWednesday, February 2, 2011
GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Wednesday questioned the state government on the rights of people from four villages who were shifted to a distant place due to the construction of Ukai dam in southern part of the state.
The division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice K.M. Thaker questioned the government on a petition alleging violation of the fundamental rights of the villagers.
Petitioner Fulsingbhai Gamit filed the plea through advocate S.H. Iyer and raised the concern of more than 2,500 people residing in a rehabilitation colony for over two decades and denied voting rights in local self-government elections.
The area of resettlement of all the four villages is now known as Chikhli. This area has not been given the status of a village for electing a panchayat of its own, the court was told.
