A 73-year-old man and his 68-year-old wife from Gujarat’s Surat have sought permission for euthanasia, alleging years of physical, mental and financial harassment by officials of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and local political leaders.

In a letter addressed to the District Collector, Shyambhai Kapoorji Gehlot and his wife Madhuben claimed that repeated sealing of their shops had pushed them into financial distress and left them emotionally drained.

Couple Lost Nine Family Members in 2016 Accident

The couple said they have been living alone since a road accident on November 7, 2016 claimed the lives of nine members of their family.

Those killed included their only son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, daughter, son-in-law and another relative.

Since the tragedy, the elderly couple said they have relied solely on each other for support.

Dispute Over Shops Dates Back Several Years

According to the Gehlots, they purchased 11 small shops in 2006 and had been paying taxes regularly after the area came under the jurisdiction of the Surat Municipal Corporation in 2008.

They alleged that the shops were sealed in 2021 by the then Executive Engineer of the civic body without prior notice.

The couple subsequently approached the Gujarat High Court and pursued legal proceedings for nearly five years.

They claimed that a report by the fire department concluded that the small shops did not require the fire safety measures applicable to larger establishments.

Following the court proceedings, the shops were reopened on January 31 this year, according to the couple.

Couple Alleges Shops Were Sealed Again

The Gehlots alleged that the shops were sealed once again on May 30 on the instructions of the current Executive Engineer, shortly after they secured relief from the High Court.

They claimed that no written notice or explanation was provided before the latest action.

Shyambhai Gehlot alleged that officials had been pressuring him to meet a local BJP leader and claimed there was an attempt to take control of his properties.

He further alleged that repeated requests for clarification had not yielded any written response from the authorities.

‘Death Is the Only Option Left’

In their appeal to the District Collector, the couple said they were no longer able to bear the alleged harassment.

“We have no desire left to live. If justice is not possible, death is the only option left,” Shyambhai Gehlot said in the representation.

The couple has requested permission for euthanasia, stating that they have been left mentally and financially exhausted by the prolonged dispute.

The allegations made by the couple have not been independently verified, and no response from the Surat Municipal Corporation or the political leaders named in the complaint was immediately available.

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