Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday came down heavily on former cricketer and Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan over his occupation of a public land parcel in Vadodara, questioning how he remained in possession of the plot without paying any amount despite the state government rejecting the allotment proposal.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D. N. Ray orally observed that the appellant should be prepared to pay damages for the use and occupation of the property. The matter has been posted for further hearing on June 15.

Pathan, a Vadodara native who represents the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal, is challenging an earlier order that described him as an encroacher on government land.

Addressing Pathan’s counsel, senior advocate Shalin Mehta, Chief Justice Agarwal said, “This was only a proposal for allotment which had been sent to the state government, which refused sanction. Just answer how you could occupy this plot? This is sufficient for us to reject. No one can do this.”

The bench also questioned how Pathan could continue occupying the land when no allotment had been made in his favour and without paying a single penny towards the allotment.

During the hearing, the court asked whether the plot had been vacated and, if not, how much time would be required to hand over possession, while warning that costs could be imposed.

The judges noted that Pathan had acted on a proposal passed by the standing committee of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), which was later forwarded to the state government for approval. However, the government rejected the proposal, and despite the process remaining incomplete, Pathan allegedly took possession of the land.

The bench remarked, “How could you take possession of the plot? Because that fact takes you outside of the court. Because anybody who is in possession of a public plot without completion of formality, no indulgence can be granted to such a person.”

The case stems from a September 2025 Gujarat High Court order dismissing Pathan’s petition against a state government notice rejecting the VMC’s proposal to allot, without auction, a 978-square-metre plot adjacent to his residence in Vadodara. DeshGujarat