Ahmedabad Collector fined by Ahmedabad High Court for not disposing of NA petition on time

The Gujarat High Court has taken a tough stand against the Ahmedabad Collector. Despite the Gujarat High Court setting a time limit on the application to NA the land, the Ahmedabad Collector has taken a tough stance. The court has taken a tough stand by not taking a decision within the time limit. The court had imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the Collector for wrongly harassing the petitioner. The Collector will have to deposit this amount from his salary in the High Court Registry within a month. The amount deposited will be paid to the petitioner as cost of the petition. The court noted that not complying with the court's order and not taking appropriate action in time amounts to contempt of the court's authority and judicial system.

an applicant filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court stating that he had filed an application under Section 65 of the Land Revenue Code before the Collector to de-cultivate his agricultural land. The Collector dismissed the petition on the grounds of old deals not allowing Section 63 of the Tenancy Act. The petitioner had earlier filed an appeal in the High Court against this order of the Collector. The High Court set aside the order of the Collector on March 2, 2026 and directed to decide the petitioner's fresh application within a time limit of 90 days based on the earlier judgment. The High Court noted that while granting NA permission under Section 65, the Collector has to see only the possession and type of land of the petitioner, the Collector does not have the power to enquire into the ownership or old title

case, an applicant had filed an application before the Ahmedabad Collector under Section 65 of the Gujarat Land Revenue Code for conversion of his agricultural land into non-cultivation. However, the Collector dismissed the petitioner's application on the basis of old land transactions not allowed under Section 63 of the Tenancy Act. This decision of the Collector was challenged by the petitioner in the Gujarat High Court. In this earlier petition, the High Court had set aside the order of the Collector on March 2, 2026. At the same time, in view of the earlier judgment, the petitioner's new application should be decided within 90 days. However, the matter reached the High Court again after the petition was not disposed of within the stipulated time<>

During the hearing, the High Court noted that while granting NA permission under Section 65 of the Land Revenue Code, the Collector has only to take into consideration the possession and type of land of the applicant. The Collector does not have the power to enquire into the ownership or previous title of the land

Court further noted that non-compliance of the order of the Court and not taking appropriate action in time amounts to contempt of the authority of the Court and the judicial system. Therefore, the High Court imposed a fine of Rs. 1 lakh on the Collector. The Collector has been ordered to deposit the amount from his salary within a month.