Gujarat HC dismisses Yusuf Pathan's appeal regarding Vadodara land dispute

The Gujarat High Court on Monday dismissed as withdrawn an appeal filed by former India cricketer and Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan against a single-judge order that had described him as an “encroacher” on a piece of government land in Vadodara. Pathan’s lawyer, Shalin Mehta, sought permission to withdraw the plea before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice DN Ray. The lawyer told the court that Pathan’s claim over the land was still being pursued under a state government policy. The division bench subsequently dismissed the appeal as withdrawn.

Pathan had challenged land allotment rejection

The 43-year-old had approached the High Court challenging a single-judge order that upheld the Gujarat government’s decision to reject his request for allotment of the 978-square metre plot owned by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). Pathan had claimed the land under a state policy applicable to international cricketers. During an earlier hearing, Pathan had told the court that he was pursuing his claim under a state government scheme and was given four weeks to pursue the matter. The High Court had also warned that he could face higher payment of damages if he took longer to vacate the plot.

During Monday’s proceedings, Mehta said they were awaiting a response from the VMC but had not received one. “Because we are saying that there is a circular which allows international cricketers to be given a plot. I think I will withdraw because I haven’t heard anything from them (VMC). I have taken instructions from my client…if it is to happen, it will happen outside the court; otherwise it won’t happen," Mehta submitted.

With the appeal withdrawn, Pathan’s attempt to challenge the earlier court order through the division bench has come to an end.

VMC had asked Pathan to vacate plot

The dispute dates back to 2024, when the Gujarat government rejected Pathan’s request for allotment of the plot. Despite the rejection, he continued to occupy the land.

After Pathan was elected from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal on a Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket in 2024, the VMC issued him a notice asking him to vacate the land. Pathan refused and challenged the matter in court. The High Court had previously taken a strong view of his occupation of the plot. During a hearing on June 8, the court came down heavily on Pathan over the alleged “encroachment” and orally questioned how he could enter and occupy the land without completing the required formalities. The matter now moves outside the court as Pathan continues to pursue his claim under the state policy.