The Gujarat High Court strongly questioned Trinamool Congress MP and former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan over his alleged occupation of a government land parcel in Vadodara. The court asked how he could take possession of the land when the state government had already rejected the proposal for its allotment.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray made the observations while hearing Pathan’s appeal against an earlier order that had described him as an encroacher on government land. The court fixed the next hearing in the matter for June 15.
Court Questions How Land Was Occupied
During the hearing, the bench repeatedly asked Pathan’s lawyer how his client could occupy the plot when no final allotment had been approved. The judges noted that the proposal for allotment had only been forwarded by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) and was later rejected by the Gujarat government.
The court observed that no allotment order had been issued in Pathan’s favour and that he had not paid any amount for the land. Chief Justice Agarwal remarked that these facts alone were enough to raise serious concerns about the legality of the possession.
The bench stressed that government land cannot be occupied merely on the basis of a proposal that never received official approval.
Court Warns of Fine, Seeks Clarification
The High Court also asked whether the land had already been vacated. If not, the judges wanted to know how much time Pathan would need to hand over possession of the plot. The bench further warned that a penalty could be imposed in the case.
According to the court, taking possession of a government plot before completing the legal allotment process could not be justified under any circumstances. The judges stated that such conduct may prevent a person from receiving relief from the court.
Dispute Linked to Vadodara Plot
The case relates to a 978-square-metre government plot located near Pathan’s residence in Vadodara. The VMC had proposed allotting the land to him without an auction, but the state government later rejected the proposal.
Pathan subsequently challenged the government’s decision in court. However, in September 2025, the High Court dismissed his petition. During the latest hearing, the court reiterated that no concessions could be granted to anyone who occupies government land before all required formalities are completed and a valid allotment is issued.
