Surat, 11 August 2026: The Gujarat government late on Tuesday night transferred M. Nagarajan, the Commissioner of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC), to Gandhinagar as the State Project Director for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, according to a General Administration Department order. Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar has been given additional charge as SMC Commissioner with immediate effect.
Transfer follows High Court censure over Nasir Nagar demolition
The sudden administrative change comes in the wake of sharp observations by the Gujarat High Court over the handling of a controversial demolition drive in Nasir Nagar. The demolition, which has been the subject of multiple petitions filed by affected residents and suspended civic officials, drew judicial scrutiny after inconsistencies emerged in official statements about who authorised the action.
Initial submissions by the civic body denied SMC involvement in the demolition, but Commissioner Nagarajan later acknowledged that SMC teams had in fact carried out the drive. That contradiction prompted the High Court to adopt a stern stance and call for accountability from senior officers involved in the operation.
"The timing of the transfer, coming immediately after the High Court's observations, has sent ripples through administrative circles," the report said.
Suspensions and allegations point to top leadership
Five municipal officers, including executive engineers Sujal Prajapati and Jayang Ramjiwala, were suspended in connection with the demolition. In a fresh development cited in court filings, Sujal Prajapati has alleged that the demolition was carried out on verbal instructions from Commissioner Nagarajan, shifting the focus of the judicial inquiry to the highest levels of the civic administration.
- SMC Commissioner M. Nagarajan transferred to State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Gandhinagar.
- Surat District Collector Tejas Parmar given additional charge as SMC Commissioner.
- Five municipal officers suspended, including executive engineers Sujal Prajapati and Jayang Ramjiwala.
Official order silent on direct link to demolition controversy
The transfer order from the General Administration Department does not explicitly connect Nagarajan's reassignment with the Nasir Nagar episode. Nevertheless, officials and observers noted the proximity of the move to the High Court's critical remarks as significant. The change in posting replaces Ranjit Kumar J as State Project Director at Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, according to the order.
Surat's civic machinery now enters a transitional phase with the District Collector managing municipal responsibilities in addition to his ongoing duties. The additional charge arrangement is customarily used in administrative transfers to maintain continuity until a permanent appointment is made.
| Post | Outgoing / Affected | New arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| SMC Commissioner | M. Nagarajan (transferred) | Tejas Parmar (additional charge) |
| State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan | Ranjit Kumar J (replaced) | M. Nagarajan (posted) |
Legal proceedings linked to the Nasir Nagar demolition are ongoing in the Gujarat High Court. The petitions from residents and suspended civic officers continue to seek clarity and redress, and court attention on senior officers has intensified since the divergent official statements became public.
For Surat — a city where municipal decisions have direct consequences for dense urban settlements, local businesses and infrastructure projects — the transfer raises immediate questions about policy continuity, internal accountability and the handling of disputed civic operations. The administration faces the task of stabilising civic governance while the judicial process addresses the allegations surrounding the demolition.
Further updates are expected as the High Court continues its hearing and the state government finalises a permanent posting for the SMC Commissioner.
