Gujarat High Court on September 17, held that Yusuf Pathan, ex-India cricketer and current TMC MP, had illegally encroached on public property by constructing a boundary wall around a government-owned residential plot. A bench led by Justice Mauna M Bhatt dismissed Pathan’s petition against the state government’s 2024 decision to reject his request to lease the land for 99 years, despite his willingness to pay market value.
The court noted that celebrities, owing to their fame and influence, have a responsibility to uphold the law with greater seriousness. “Granting leniency to such persons despite their non-abeyance of law gives wrong message to the society and undermines public confidence in the judicial system,” Justice Bhatt observed. The order further stressed that the Supreme Court has previously ruled that celebrities’ accountability is greater than that of ordinary citizens since they serve as role models in society.
The dispute dates back to 2012, when Pathan applied for a 978 sq m plot adjacent to his bungalow in Vadodara, citing security concerns due to his celebrity status. The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) referred the matter to the state government, but no allotment was made. Despite this, Pathan built a boundary wall around the land, which the court said amounted to encroachment.
Pathan had argued that his long possession of the land and his willingness to pay its market value justified allotting the plot to him. However, the court dismissed this claim, making it clear that possession or willingness to pay does not confer ownership rights over public property. “This illegality shall not be permitted to be perpetuated. Strict action in accordance with law is expected from the respondent corporation,” the order stated.
The Gujarat High Court has effectively signalled that public property cannot be appropriated under the guise of security concerns or influence, thereby reinforcing public trust in governance and judicial fairness.
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