The Gujarat High Court has ruled that paying guest (PG) accommodations cannot operate from residential premises without official permission. The verdict comes after a dispute in Ahmedabad’s Shivranjani area, where the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) sealed two flats used as PG housing, prompting a legal challenge.
Flats Sealed After Society Objects to PG Use
The issue began when a property owner rented out two flats in Skylark Apartments near Shivranjani Crossroads to eight PG tenants. The residential society opposed the move, issued a notice to vacate, and filed complaints with both the police and AMC. While the police allegedly took no action, AMC issued notices and sealed the flats on June 11.
Owner Cites Homestay Policy, Tenants Claim Harassment
In court, the owner argued that the flats were run as homestays under the Gujarat government’s 2020 policy, claiming there was no disturbance to other residents. The tenants, mostly women, said they faced moral policing and harassment from society members, including comments about their clothing and character.
Court Clarifies: PG is Not a Homestay
The owner filed a writ petition, after which the High Court granted temporary relief by allowing the flats to be used. However, AMC clarified that the homestay application had been rejected, noting that homestay rules require the owner to live on-site and host only short-term guests. In this case, the flats were used for long-term PG stays while the owner lived elsewhere.
Justice Mona M Bhatt concluded that PG accommodations in residential buildings require prior approval and cannot be operated under the guise of homestays. The court also directed the state government, AMC, and related authorities to spread public awareness about the rules for PGs and homestays.