Daijiworld Media Network - Vadodara
Vadodara, Sep 17: Former India all-rounder and Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan has suffered a legal blow, with the Gujarat High Court declaring him an “encroacher” on a government-owned residential plot in Vadodara.
The single-judge bench of Justice Mauna Bhatt dismissed Pathan’s petition challenging a 2024 notice issued by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), directing the civic body to remove the encroachment.
Dispute dates back to 2012
The controversy began in 2012, when Pathan approached VMC seeking to purchase an open plot adjacent to his bungalow in the Tandalja area, citing “security concerns” for himself and his family. VMC rejected his request in 2014 after evaluating the land.
Despite the rejection, Pathan continued occupying the plot. The matter resurfaced in 2024, after Pathan was elected as MP from Baharampur constituency in West Bengal, prompting VMC to issue a fresh notice asking him to vacate the land.
“No special treatment for celebrities”
In her ruling, Justice Bhatt observed that Pathan’s status as a celebrity or public representative cannot grant him leniency in law.
“As a national representative and public figure, Pathan’s responsibility to follow the law is greater. Celebrities, due to their fame and public presence, have a profound impact on public behaviour and societal values. Granting concessions to such individuals despite flouting the law sends a wrong message to society and undermines public trust in the judicial system,” the court stated.
With the High Court’s verdict, VMC is expected to initiate action to reclaim the plot.