Gujarat HC declares former Cricketer & TMC MP Yusuf Pathan an encroacher and orders eviction from govt land in Vadodara

The Gujarat High Court has ruled that former cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan is an encroacher on government land in Vadodara. In its decision ordering him to vacate the disputed plot, the court emphasised that celebrities are not above the law and that granting them exceptions would set a harmful precedent.

The judgment, delivered last month by a single-judge bench headed by Justice Mona Bhatt, dismissed Pathan’s plea to retain possession of the land adjoining his bungalow in the Tandalja area of Vadodara.

The court referred to principles laid down by the Supreme Court, stating that granting exemptions to public figures in legal matters sends the wrong message to society and weakens the rule of law.

The court observed that as a national representative and public figure, Yusuf Pathan bears an even greater responsibility to uphold the law. It noted that celebrities, because of their fame and influence, significantly shape public behaviour and societal values. Offering legal concessions to such individuals despite violations, the court said, sends the wrong message and erodes public confidence in the judicial system.

The case dates back to 2012, when the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) issued a notice to Pathan, directing him to vacate a piece of government land he had allegedly occupied since that year. In response, Pathan challenged the notice and took the matter to the Gujarat High Court. The court, however, found him to be in unauthorised possession of the plot.

In his petition, Yusuf Pathan argued that he and his brother, former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan, should be allowed to purchase the disputed land to ensure their family’s safety.

The petition stated, “He also sought approval from the state’s chief minister to buy the plot, citing that both he and Irfan Pathan are internationally recognised sports personalities. Given their public profile and concerns over family security, the land should be allotted to them.”

While municipal authorities reviewed the request and forwarded it to the state government, the proposal was ultimately rejected in 2014. However, despite the government’s decision, Pathan continued to occupy the land, which led to ongoing legal disputes and ultimately resulted in the recent Gujarat High Court order directing him to vacate the property.