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In a significant legal development, the Gujarat High Court has taken action in response to objections raised by the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) against a town planning scheme finalized by the state government. The court issued a notice to concerned state government authorities, seeking an explanation for their actions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
ESIC, a central government agency, has claimed that the Gujarat state government rushed to approve Town Planning Scheme 99 in the Naroda-Chiloda area and acquired land without adequate consultation. The controversy centres around a land parcel in Naroda earmarked for the construction of a hospital by ESIC, a crucial need during the pandemic.
However, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) formulated Town Planning Scheme 99, which reserved ESIC's 11,009 square meters of land for a medical college. The scheme was finalized on December 16, 2020, without seeking ESIC's input, at a time when the agency was fully dedicated to providing essential medical services to Covid-19 patients.
ESIC argues that constructing a hospital on the designated plot should take precedence over a medical college, given the urgent healthcare needs brought about by the pandemic. This dispute raises questions about the state government's authority to acquire land from a central government body and the appropriateness of finalizing a town planning scheme during a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic, when ESIC was overwhelmed with the task of saving lives.
In response to these concerns, the Gujarat High Court has summoned state authorities to provide clarification on the matter. The court has set a date for further hearings on November 2, 2023, shedding light on the complex interplay between central and state government agencies when dealing with public health emergencies and land development initiatives.
This legal battle underscores the broader challenges faced by government entities during times of crisis, where competing priorities and urgent needs often collide, leading to contentious disputes that require judicial intervention for resolution.
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