The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government and the Lucknow Municipal Corporation to file their replies by October 30 on a petition filed by Sahara India Corporation Limited challenging the sealing of Sahara Shahar, a sprawling 170-acre township in Lucknow’s Gomtinagar area.
A Lucknow bench of Justices Sangeeta Chandra and Amitabh Rai passed the order after hearing arguments from both sides at length. The court said the matter required consideration and directed the parties to exchange their pleadings before the next hearing.
The bench also issued directions regarding the cattle left inside the premises, instructing that they be shifted to Kanha Upvan and properly taken care of.
The Lucknow Municipal Corporation had sealed all six gates of Sahara Shahar, alleging violations of the lease and licence agreements. The original lease deed was executed in 1994. The civic body said notices were issued to Sahara in 2020 and again in 2025, and after granting opportunities for a hearing, it proceeded to seal the premises.
Sahara India Corporation moved the High Court challenging the sealing order, arguing that the action was hasty and unlawful.
Appearing for Sahara, counsel argued that the municipal corporation’s action to take possession and seal the entire township was arbitrary and carried out in undue haste. They contended that:
- No proper inventory of properties and valuable items inside Sahara Shahar was prepared before sealing.
- The corporation acted without issuing adequate notice for vacating the premises.
- There was no urgency warranting such a drastic step.
The Lucknow Nagar Nigam maintained that Sahara had violated key conditions of the 1994 lease deed. It pointed out that notices had been issued on multiple occasions, including in 2020 and 2025, and after giving due opportunity of hearing, the sealing was carried out lawfully.
