Vidarbha Hockey Association's appeal rejected, order cancelling Amravati Road ground lease upheld

The Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) has suffered a major setback in the case of the hockey ground on Amravati Road. The Additional Divisional Commissioner of the Nagpur division has dismissed the VHA's appeal, which had been filed under Section 247 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. The Commissioner upheld the Collector's order to cancel the lease of government nazul land and take the land into government possession. The order was passed on September 28. With this, the VHA's appeal concerning the 3.80 hectares of land stands dismissed for now.

The land is at Mouza Gadga on Amravati Road, in Nagpur tehsil and district. This government nazul land, bearing Khasra No. 65/5 and City Survey No. 277, was leased to the VHA for the development of hockey and the creation of public sports facilities. Records show the lease has been running since 1962. A renewal agreement of September 24, 2007 extended it to September 23, 2037. The agreement also records that the terms of the original lease remain in force despite the renewal.

The matter took a turn when the nazul branch of the Collector's office sought a report on the condition of the ground. The District Sports Officer submitted an inspection report on June 15, 2026, which recorded serious objections. According to the report, upkeep of the ground was not satisfactory, with patches of soil, stones and sparse grass. It lacked the level surface needed for hockey, and there was no natural or artificial turf.

Bushes, overgrown vegetation and filth were found along the edges of the ground. Open drains and broken slabs were found, raising the risk of injury to players. The seating was described as old and inadequate. Basic facilities such as goalposts, ground markings, drainage, changing rooms, toilets and drinking water were said to be absent. The report concluded that the ground was not being maintained regularly or to a good standard.

On the basis of this report and an inquiry by the nazul branch, a show-cause notice was issued to the VHA on June 16, 2026. It sought proof of the body's legitimacy, compliance with all the lease conditions, compliance with Condition No. 5 of Form BB, and the hockey facilities required on the ground. It also raised the issue of ground rent not being deposited regularly into the government account. The Collector of Nagpur then ordered on July 17 that the land be taken into government possession.

The Additional Divisional Commissioner examined the records, the District Collector's order, the inspection report, the lease agreement, the VHA's reply and the court proceedings together, and agreed with the Collector's findings. The order said that a body's registration alone does not exempt it from the independent conditions of a lease on government nazul land. It is the leaseholder's responsibility to use the land for the specific public sports purpose for which it was given and to carry out the necessary maintenance.

The order also clarified that the dispute between Hockey India and Hockey Maharashtra over recognition or administration is a separate issue. The pendency of that dispute does not end the responsibility to fulfil the conditions of the nazul land lease. The Additional Commissioner also held that the show-cause notice had given the VHA an opportunity to present its case and that the principles of natural justice were followed. Hearings were held on August 7, September 2 and September 23, 2026. The matter was reserved for judgment on September 23, and Additional Divisional Commissioner Tushar Mathkar issued the order on September 28, 2026.

The question now is what happens to the ground. The Additional Divisional Commissioner's order has upheld the District Collector's decision, which cleared the way to end the VHA's lease and take the land into government possession. However, the record of the order also mentions High Court proceedings and other legal aspects raised by the VHA. The next stage of the dispute will therefore depend on the relevant judicial and administrative proceedings.