P&H HC directs status quo on land involved in pending acquisition challenge

Gentle Realtors Pvt Ltd, a Gurugram-based landowner, has secured a significant interim order from the Punjab & Haryana High Court, directing maintenance of status quo with respect to possession and alienation of land comprised in Khewat/Khata number 1/2, Rect. No. 9 Killa no. 1 (1-5), Rect number 10, Killa number 6(1-9) field 2 admeasuring 2 Kanal 14 Marla, situated at Village Nangli Umarpur, Sector-65, Gurugram, Haryana, which is the subject matter of long-pending acquisition litigation.

Gentle Realtors Pvt Ltd had purchased the aforesaid land vide a registered Sale Deed dated July 13, 2007. Subsequently, the land became subject to acquisition pursuant to Notification No LAC(G)/NTLA/2008/1483 dated 12.12.2008 issued under Section 4, Notification number LAC(G)/NTLA/2009/1525 dated 11.12.2009 issued under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, followed by Award number 38 dated November 23, 2011. Aggrieved by the acquisition proceedings, Gentle Realtors Pvt Ltd filed CWP No.

5964 of 2017 titled Gentle Realtors Pvt Ltd v State of Haryana & Anr., which is presently pending adjudication before the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The writ petition, inter alia, challenges the legality and validity of the said notifications and award, along with all consequential proceedings, and seeks protection against dispossession and restraint on coercive steps during the pendency of the case.

Despite the pendency of the aforesaid writ petitions a portion of the land belonging to Gentle Realtors Pvt Ltd, admeasuring 632 sq meters (1 Kanal 5 Marla) and forming part of the subject matter of CWP number 5964 of 2017, was included and sold by way of an auction dated August 29, 2024 conducted by Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) to Acreage Builders Pvt Ltd (a wholly owned company of Max Estates Ltd).

The said auction was conducted without notice to the landowner and without disclosure to the Court, despite the matter being sub judice. High Court Grants Status Quo Upon learning of the said auction, Gentle Realtors Pvt Ltd approached the Punjab & Haryana High Court by filing an appropriate application seeking stay of all actions arising out of the auction and praying for status quo in respect of the land forming part of the subject matter of CWP number 5964 of 2017.

After hearing the parties at length, the Punjab & Haryana High Court, by order dated January, 22, 2026, has been pleased to order status quo with respect to possession and alienation of the land forming the subject matter of CWP number 5964 of 201, according to a Press Release.