India, Feb. 25 -- The Gujarat high court has set aside an order of the City Deputy Collector (East), Ahmedabad, that blocked the sale of a property in the Gheekanta area, holding that the authority acted outside the limits prescribed under the Disturbed Areas Act, 1991.

The Act, implemented in the aftermath of communal riots in the 1980s, requires the district collector's permission for transferring property, especially between parties of different religious communities, in notified areas to prevent distress sales arising out of fear or coercion.

Justice Aniruddha P Mayee passed the order on February 16 in a petition filed by Nadeemkhan Valibahadar Pathan and eight other members of his family, who are the proposed buyers of a property. ...