Gujarat man scraps deal to sell flat to Muslim as residents object

VADODARA: A Hindu man had to junk his decision to sell his flat in a posh Vadodara locality in Gujarat to a Muslim after others in his housing complex objected.
Mahesh Palani, resident of Samarpan Society in Vasna Road area of the district, said he scrapped the idea to sell his flat to a Muslim and planned to withdraw his police verification application as well.

In a meeting of Samarpan Society members November 24, several of them claimed such a deal, to a Muslim, would “devalue real estate prices in the area”.
“I submitted an application to the police station for verification to proceed with the sale, but will withdraw it,” Palani said.
Incidentally, the locality in which the complex is located is covered by a law which mandates that an NOC from the housing society president and permission of the district collector is required for such a sale.

The law is called the Gujarat Prohibition of Transfer of Immovable Property and Provisions for Protection of Tenants from Eviction from Premises in Disturbed Areas (Amendment) Act.
Members of Samarpan Society, who held a meeting on the issue November 24, pointed out the Disturbed Areas Act held that sale of a property to a Muslim in a Hindu-dominated area and vice versa was not allowed until each immediate neighbor of the property in question consents to it.

The society, at present, has 170 houses, of which two were sold to Muslims in 2017 and another leased out for 99 years to another Muslim.
“After learning the flat owner was selling his property to a Muslim without an NoC from society members, especially immediate neighbors, we called a meeting and forced the owner to withdraw his decision,” society general secretary Bikramjeet Singh said.

“Members of the minority community tend to sell their houses at low prices at a later stage, dropping the property rates in the area. Also, when minority community occupants increase, Hindu community tends to move out,” Singh claimed.
Meanwhile, JP police station sub-inspector SS Jasani said the issue was settled amicably.
“The seller and buyer reached a compromise and they have given their statements to the police. On the basis of these statements, we will give our opinion to the district administration,” he said. PTI