16.1.21

Somewhere in Gujarat

Gujarat government has imposed Disturbed Area Act in 28 areas falling under Gandhighram police station, mostly residential societies, in Rajkot city and declared these as ‘disturbed areas’. The Act prohibits sale of property between different religious communities without prior approval of the district collector.

The 28 areas are part of ward 2 of the Rajkot Municipal Corporation. The act will be in force for the next five years till January 12, 2026.

This is for the first time that the Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provision for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas Act, commonly known as the Disturbed Area Act, has been imposed in any locality or area of Rajkot city.

The notification issued by the state revenue department on January 13 stated “Gujarat government is of the opinion that public order in the said areas was disturbed for a substantial period by reason of riots of violence of mob”.

The imposition of the Act means that “All transfers of immovable properties situated in the disturbed areas made during the aforesaid specified period shall be null and void and no immovable property situated in the said disturbed areas shall during the aforesaid specified period be transferred except with the previous sanction of the collector, Rajkot district”, the notification read.

Sources said the Act was imposed by the district administration, following representation by various sections of people and based on police opinion. The areas where the Act has been imposed are posh areas and is known to be a stronghold of BJP and the RSS supporters, sources added.

The Act which was amended in 2019 has provision for imprisonment between three to five years along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh or 10% of the value of the property, whichever is higher, in case of violation. This Act has been in force in some communally sensitive areas of the state, including in Ahmedabad and Vadodara.

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