Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday lifted the stay it had imposed in January on the development of a new facility by the Sports Club of Gujarat near Chekhla and Vansajada villages, west of Ahmedabad. This decision followed the petitioner’s request to withdraw the case.

Justice Sangeeta Vishen allowed the withdrawal but imposed a fine of Rs 10,000, directing the petitioner to pay the amount to the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority within two weeks.

The stay was lifted after the petitioner, who had opposed the club’s facility development on land from a residential society’s common plot, withdrew his petition unconditionally. The petitioner, Vijay Kumar Bhawan, informed the court that an amicable settlement had been reached with the club and other stakeholders, and any previous misunderstanding had been clarified.

Bhawan had initially objected on the grounds that the 53,302 sq m land was in an agricultural zone, where commercial activities like a club are prohibited. However, after assurances from the club that the society’s common plot met the required 10% minimum land allocation, Bhawan was satisfied his rights as a society member and villa owner were unaffected.

Following Bhawan’s earlier petition challenging the land’s validation by the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda), the authority had revoked its certificate. In its order, the High Court clarified that the petition’s withdrawal would not prevent the authorities from taking further legal steps if necessary.