A woman landowner in Gujarat had to go to the High Court twice over the same land application.
Now the court has said the Ahmedabad Collector must pay for that.
The Gujarat High Court has directed Ahmedabad Collector to pay ₹1 lakh as costs from his salary.
The Collector is the top revenue officer of the district. The court said he ignored its earlier order.
Key points
- The Gujarat High Court ordered the Ahmedabad Collector to pay ₹1 lakh from his salary.
- The court said he rejected a land application again, despite its earlier order.
- The court said the hardship to the woman must be paid for by the Collector himself.
- The case is about using farm land for non-farm purposes.
What was the land case about?
The woman wanted permission to use her farm land for non-farm purposes.
In Gujarat, this is called conversion of agricultural land. The Collector rejected her application in February 2025.
He cited objections about earlier land deals. He also said there was no permission under a separate law.
That law limits selling farm land to non-farmers without prior approval.
She challenged the rejection in the High Court. On March 2, 2026, the court quashed the order.
It told her to file a fresh application, which the Collector had to decide within the legal time limit.
Why did the court come down so strongly?
She filed a fresh application in April 2026. The Collector rejected it again on August 6.
He again relied on the earlier land deals.
The court had already said such questions cannot be examined in this kind of proceeding.
The Collector also mentioned a state government plan to challenge the March 2 judgment.
On November 5, the court noted that no such appeal had been filed yet.
- February 2025Collector rejected the land conversion application, citing earlier land deals and no permission under a separate law.
- March 2, 2026High Court quashed the rejection and asked the Collector to decide a fresh application within the legal time limit.
- April 2026The woman filed a fresh application for converting her farm land to non-farm use.
- August 6Collector rejected the fresh application again, relying on the same earlier land deals.
- November 5High Court noted that no appeal had been filed against its March 2 judgment and ordered costs from the Collector's salary.
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
The court said every person must respect its orders, and government departments are no exception.
It said the Collector must personally pay for the hardship. Justice MK Thakker heard the plea.
So why does this matter for ordinary people?
The ruling sends a clear message that government officers must follow court orders.
It also protects people who have to return to court because of an authority's conduct.
The report does not say when the payment must be made. It also does not say whether the land application will be approved.
Explainer
What happened before
- In February 2025, the Ahmedabad Collector rejected a woman's application to use her farm land for non-farm purposes.
- On March 2, 2026, the Gujarat High Court quashed that rejection and asked her to file a fresh application.
- The Collector rejected the fresh application again on August 6.
Why it matters
The court said government offices must follow its orders, and officers cannot act on their own whims.
What to watch next
- The court said the hardship to the litigant must be compensated by the Collector himself from his own pocket.
- The report does not say when the payment must be made.
