Become a member

Get the best offers and updates relating to Liberty Case News.

― Advertisement ―

spot_img

Real-World Business Perspectives at Chalk Talk 4.0

Our Hyderabad Partner Thanuja Palla delved into the forces shaping today’s business world at Chalk Talk 4.0 hosted by the BBA Placement Cell of...
HomeHigh CourtPunjab and Haryana High Court(O&M)Chattar Singh & Others vs State Of Haryana & Others on 30...

(O&M)Chattar Singh & Others vs State Of Haryana & Others on 30 January, 2026


Punjab-Haryana High Court

(O&M)Chattar Singh & Others vs State Of Haryana & Others on 30 January, 2026

RSA-311-1992 (O&M)                                                     -1-



      IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT
                   CHANDIGARH
                                                     RSA-311-1992 (O&M)
                                           Judgment reserved on :04.11.2025
                                         Judgment pronounced on 30.01.2026


CHATTAR SINGH (SINCE DECEASED) THROUGH LRS &
OTHERS

                                                      ... APPELLANTS
                                         VERSUS
STATE OF HARYANA & OTHERS                             ...RESPONDENTS



CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PARMOD GOYAL

Present:    Mr. Vijay Kumar Jindal, Senior Advocate with
            Mr. Abhishek Shukla, Advocate and
            Mr. Aditya Sharma, Advocate
            for the appellants.

            Mr. Abhinav Mahant, AAG, Haryana.

            Mr. Ranjit Singh Ghuman, Advocate and
            Mr. Chand Ram Narwal, Advocate
            for respondent Nos. 2 to 17.

                   ****
PARMOD GOYAL, J.

The plaintiffs-appellants are aggrieved by the impugned

judgment and decree dated 13.12.1991 passed by the learned Additional

District Judge-I, Jind, whereby the judgment and decree dated

29.04.1991 passed by the learned Sub Judge, Ist Class, Narwana by

which the suit for declaration filed by the plaintiffs-appellants had been

decreed was set aside.

2. The plaintiffs in their suit for declaration claimed themselves

1 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -2-

to be owners in possession of the suit land. It was asserted that the father

of plaintiff-appellant Nos. 1 and 2 was a big landowner and vide order

dated 21.08.1956, some of his land was declared surplus under the

PEPSU Tenancy and Agricultural Land Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to

as ‘PEPSU Act‘ / ‘1955 Act’) . Again, vide order dated 09.06.1961, 14

standard acres was declared surplus under the Punjab Security of Land

Tenures Act, 1953 (hereinafter referred to as ‘1953 Act’).

Appeals/revisions were preferred by father of the plaintiffs-appellant

Nos. 1 and 2, however, the orders declaring the land surplus were

affirmed. Thereafter, Dhan Singh, father of plaintiff Nos. 1 and 2,

suffered a decree dated 27.04.1971 in favour of his sons and mutation Ex.

P.2 was entered in favour of the sons of Dhan Singh, i.e., the plaintiffs.

Notices dated 25.05.1970 (Ex. D.9) and 01.05.1973 (Ex. D.10) were

served upon the landowner for handing over possession. Vide the said

notices, it was further informed that the land stood allotted and the

Tehsildar was directed to take possession and hand over the same to the

allottees. The plaintiffs-appellants sought a declaration that the orders

dated 21.08.1956 and 09.06.1961, by virtue of which the land had been

declared surplus, as well as the orders dated 13.05.1970 and 29.05.1971,

vide which the land was allotted to tenants, were illegal, void, without

jurisdiction, and not binding upon the plaintiffs-appellants. The plaintiffs-

appellants claimed themselves to be owners in possession of the suit

property and further sought a decree of permanent injunction restraining

the defendants from interfering in their rights.

3. The suit was contested on the ground that the land stood

2 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -3-

vested in the State by virtue of Section 12(3) of the Haryana Ceiling on

Land Holdings Act, 1972 (for short ‘1972 Act’) with effect from the

appointed date, i.e., 24.01.1971, and that the land had already been

utilized; therefore, the plaintiffs had no right, title, or interest therein.

4. From the pleadings of the parties, the following issues were

framed:

1. Whether the orders dated 21-8-1956 and 9-6-1961 vide
which the suit land was declared surplus are null and
void ? OPP.

2. Whether the orders dated 13-5-70 and 31-5-1973 passed
by prescribed authority making allotment of suit land to
tenants are also null and void ? OPP.

3. If issue No.1 and 2 are proved, then whether plaintiffs are
entitled to the relief of permanent injunction against
defendant as prayed for ? OPP.

4. Whether the suit is undervalued for the purposes of court
fees and jurisdiction ? OPP.

5. Whether plaintiff has got no locus-standi to file the suit ?

OPD.

6. Whether civil court has got no jurisdiction to try and
entertain the suit ? OPD.

7. Whether the suit is time barred ? OPD.

8. Whether the suit is bad for want of notice u/s 80 of
CPC ? OPD.

9. Relief.”

5. Three questions upon which the decision of the present case

depends are:-

3 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -4-

1. Whether possession of the suit property was
delivered to defendant Nos. 2 to 4, namely, the
tenants to whom the land was allotted as to
complete utilization under 1953 Act.

2. Whether the civil court has jurisdiction in view of
the provisions of Section 26 of the Haryana
Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972; and

3. Whether the land stood utilized before the
appointed date, i.e., 24.01.1971, and therefore
exclusively vested in the State by virtue of the
Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972.

6. Learned senior counsel for the plaintiffs-appellants has

argued that since the land had not been utilized prior to the coming into

force of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972, either under

the PEPSU Act or under the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953

the order declaring the land surplus had not attained finality. It was

further contended that the rights of the major sons, who were entitled to

the suit land, ought to have been considered, as the sons of Dhan Singh

had become majors prior to the utilization of the suit land, prior to the

enforcement of the 1972 Act, and were therefore entitled to choose their

permissible area.Reliance has been placed upon the following judgments

in support of the arguments raised on behalf of the appellants:

(1) Kirpal Singh & Ors. Vs. Kamla Devi & Ors., 2020
(11) SCC 273;

(2) State of Haryana Vs. Ram Singh (Deceased) through
LRs & Ors., date of decision 29.02.2024 in RSA-851-

1991;




                               4 of 16
            ::: Downloaded on - 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
 RSA-311-1992 (O&M)                                                   -5-

      (3)    Smt. Ajit Kaur & Ors. Vs. The Punjab State & Ors.,
             1981 AIR (Punjab and Haryana) 8;

      (4)    State of Haryana & Ors. Vs. Vinod Kumar & Ors.,
             1986 AIR (Punjab and Haryana) 407;

      (5)    Chandgi Vs. Financial Commissioner, Haryana, 1984
             PLJ 437;

      (6)    Financial Commissioner, Haryana Vs. Kela Devi, 1980
             AIR (Supreme Court) 309;

      (7)    Dharam Vir Vs. The Financial Commissioner,
             Haryana & Ors., 1980 PLJ 403;

      (8)    Gurdev Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Anr.,
             1988 PLJ 317;

      (9)    Sher Singh Vs. Financial Commissioner of Planning,
             Punjab, 1987 (2) SCC 439;

(10) State of Haryana through the Collector & Anr. Vs.
M/s Universal Poultry Breeding Farm & Anr., 2020
(2) PLR 198; and

(11) Reshami Devi Vs. State of Haryana & Anr, 2024 (2)
PLR 449.

7. On the other hand, learned counsel for the defendants-

respondents has argued that, by virtue of the Haryana Ceiling on Land

Holdings Act, 1972, the land stood vested in the State, particularly in

view of notices dated 25.05.1970 and 01.05.1973, vide which the

landowner was directed to hand over possession. Reliance was also

placed upon the rapat roznamcha, showing that possession of the suit

land was taken over by the State. It was contended that the land stood

utilized in view of its allotment as well as the taking over of possession

5 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -6-

by the State and, therefore, the attainment of majority by the sons of the

landowner would not confer any right to reopen the declaration of surplus

land.

8. It was further argued that the suit is barred by the provisions

of Section 26 of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holding Act, 1972 (for

short ‘1972 Act’) and, therefore, is not maintainable. Reliance has been

placed upon the following judgments in support of the respondents’ case:

(1) Meg Raj (dead) Thr. L.Rs. & Ors. Vs. Manphool
(Dead) Thr
. L.Rs. & Ors., 2019 (4) SCC 636;

(2) State of M.P Vs. Ghisilal, 2022 AIR (Supreme Court)
275;

(3) Devinder Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Haryana & Anr.,
2006 (5) SCC 720;

(4) Amar Singh Vs. Ajmer Singh, 1994 (3) PLR 433;

(5) Bharat Bhushan Vs. State of Haryana & Ors., 1990
PLJ 563;

(6) Nirbhay Singh & Ors.Vs. State of Haryana & Ors.,
2003 (2) PLJ 1;

(7) Thath Singh Vs. State of Haryana, 1986 PLJ 402;

(8) Smt. Radha Bai Vs. The State of Haryana, 1997 (3)
RCR (Civil) 509;

(9) Dharam Pal Vs. State of Haryana, 2002 (2) RCR
(Civil) 37;

(10) Smt. Bhagwanti Devi & Anr. Vs. State of Haryana &
Anr.
, 1994 AIR (SC) 1869;

(11) Sampuran Singh Vs. State of Haryana & Ors., 1994
AIR (Supreme Court) 2126; and

6 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -7-

(12) Khushal Vs. Nathu Ram, 2000 (1) RCR (Civil) 165.

9. The learned Court of first instance examined in detail the

question as to whether possession of suit land was delivered to the

allottees in pursuance of the allotment letters dated 13.05.1970 and

31.05.1973. In order to prove that possession of the land was never

delivered to the allottees, the plaintiffs-appellants placed reliance upon

the jamabandi for the years 1976-77 (Ex. P-3 and P-4), jamabandi for the

year 1981-82 (Ex. P-5), mutation No. 3359 (Ex. D-6), mutation No. 3308

(Ex. P-7), mutation No. 3424 (Ex. P-7), mutation No. 3439 (Ex. P-8),

mutation No. 2758 (Ex. P-9), khasra girdawari up to the year 1986 (Ex.

P-10 and P-11), and khasra girdawari up to the year 1989 (Ex. P-16).

10. The plaintiffs-appellants also examined one of the tenants, to

whom land had been allotted, as PW-1 – Lal Chand, who specifically

asserted that although the suit land was allotted to him, possession was

never handed over. Other prosecution witnesses, namely PW-2-Gaje

Singh, PW-3-Parhlad, PW-4-Ishwar Singh Lambardar, and PW-5-Sarta

Ram, including the Sarpanch of the village, supported the plaintiffs’-

appellants’ case regarding non-delivery of possession and stated that it

was the plaintiffs who remained in possession of the suit land. On the

other hand, the defendants placed reliance upon Ex. D-9 and Ex. D-10

dated 25.05.1970 and orders dated 17.06.1970 (Ex. D-11 and Ex. D-12),

whereby possession of the land was allegedly handed over to the

allottees. However, in cross-examination, it was admitted that actual

possession of the suit land was never handed over to defendant Nos. 2 to

8. It is also not in dispute that vide orders dated 17.05.1983 (Ex. P-21 to

7 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -8-

Ex. P-26), the allotments in favour of the defendants were cancelled on

account of their failure to deposit of installments. On the basis of the

evidence led by the parties, the learned Court of first instance rightly

concluded that possession of the suit land was never taken by the State

prior to the coming into force of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings

Act, 1972. Mere issuance of notices for taking possession dated

13.05.1970 and the taking of symbolic possession, in the absence of

actual physical possession, would not amount to taking over possession

before the appointed date and, therefore, would not constitute utilization

of surplus land by the State prior to the enforcement of the 1972 Act.

11. Though the learned Appellate Court differed from the

conclusion drawn by the learned Court of first instance, however it had

not discussed in detail whether possession had actually been delivered to

the allottees or whether the land stood utilized prior to the enforcement of

the 1972 Act. It merely concluded that once the 1972 Act had come into

force, even symbolic possession of the land would justify vesting in the

State and that the declaration of surplus area could not be reopened. The

learned Appellate Court has not gone into the issue of delivery of

possession prior to the enforcement of the Haryana Ceiling on Land

Holdings Act, 1972. In view of the facts recorded by both the courts

below, it is clearly established that up to the year 1989, even the revenue

records continued to reflect the name of the plaintiffs-appellants as owner

in possession, and none of the allottees was shown to be in possession of

any portion of the land allotted to them. No evidence has been led by the

allottees to demonstrate their possession over the suit land. Rather, even

8 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -9-

while appearing as defence witnesses, the allottees failed to prove that

possession was taken prior to the enforcement of the 1972 Act.

12. In view of the foregoing discussion, it is therefore clearly

made out that the finding of the learned Court of first instance that actual

possession of the surplus land was never delivered to the allottees prior to

the enforcement of the 1972 Act and land had not vested in State prior to

enforcement of 1972 Act, cannot be faulted with and is accordingly

affirmed.

13. Learned counsel for the defendants-respondents have relied

upon judgments titiled as Meg Raj (dead) Thr. L.Rs. & Ors. Vs.

Manphool (Dead) Thr. L.Rs. & Ors., 2019 (4) SCC 636; State of M.P Vs.

Ghisilal, 2022 AIR (Supreme Court) 275; Devinder Singh & Ors. Vs.

State of Haryana & Anr., 2006 (5) SCC 720; Smt. Radha Bai Vs. The

State of Haryana, 1997 (3) RCR (Civil) 509; to argue that section 26 (b)

of 1972 Act clearly bars filing of civil suit to examine legality of order

passed by Prescribed Authority under the Act. The legal principle stated

in referred judgments that the declaration of surplus land by the

competent authority cannot be questioned before a Civil Court in view of

the bar contained in Section 26 of the Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings

Act, 1972, and that the only remedy available to a person aggrieved by an

order declaring land surplus is by way of appeal or revision under the

Act, is well settled and not in dispute. An order declaring surplus area is,

therefore, generally not amenable to the jurisdiction of the civil court.

However, there are exceptions to this general rule. Hon’ble Supreme

Court in Kamla Mills Ltd. Vs. State of Bombay, AIR 1965 Supreme

9 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -10-

Court 1942 (Seven Judges – Constitutional Bench) had concluded that if

the Tribunal/Court constituted under a special statute is found to have

acted in violation of principles of natural justice or against the procedure

prescribed under the special statute then the Civil Court has jurisdiction.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Kamla Mills Pvt. Ltd. Vs. State of

Bombay (supra) had held that Civil Court has got primary jurisdiction

over all disputes under Section 9 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. To

find out whether a civil court is barred under provisions of Section 26 of

1972 Act, the test would be whether there was a violation of 1972

Act/1953 Act/PEPSU Act committed by authorities or there was breach

of natural justice. This Court in State of Haryana through the Collector

and Another versus M/s. Universal Poultry Farm and Another, 2020

(2) PLR 198 by relying upon judgment of Kamla Mills Pvt. Ltd. (supra)

held that jurisdiction of civil court is not barred if order impugned is

violative of law or natural justice.

14. Moreover, the issue raised by the plaintiffs-appellants does

not pertain to the finality or legality of the orders declaring suit land as

surplus land. Rather, their specific case is that although the land was

declared surplus vide orders dated 21.08.1956 and 09.06.1961, the

proceedings relating to the surplus area did not attain finality, as

possession of the land so declared surplus was never taken by the State.

In the absence of utilization, the orders declaring the land surplus in the

hands of the landowner did not become operative against his rights prior

to the enforcement of the 1972 Act. The rights of major sons of the

landowner had come into force prior to the utilization of the land so

10 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -11-

declared surplus. Thus, the plaintiffs are not challenging the validity of

the orders declaring the land surplus; rather, they are challenging the

operation and effect of those orders on account of non-utilization of the

surplus land till the appointed date and effect of section 10-A(b) of 1953

Act as discussed in later part of judgment. The nature of the dispute

raised by the plaintiff-appellants is, therefore, amenable to the

jurisdiction of the civil court, particularly when no alternative remedy is

available to the landowner/plaintiffs under 1953 Act or under the 1972

Act. None of the judgments relied upon by learned counsel for the

defendants with respect to lack of jurisdiction are applicable, as the issue

in the present case does not relate to the validity of the declaration of

surplus land. Rather, it concerns the failure of the State to utilize the

surplus land prior to the accrual of rights under Secton 10-A(b) of 1953

Act.

15. Before proceeding further it would be necessary to note

following gist of judgments referred by both sides as regards to effect of

enforcement of 1972 Act.

¾ Under Punjab Land Reforms Act, Sections 5(1) and 4 if
surplus area declared under old Act has not been utilised
till the coming into force of the new Act, it is incumbent
upon the Collector to give due notice to big land owner
and consider the objections under new Act. Big
landowner having three adult sons on appointed day
competent to retain separate unit for each adult son-
Surplus area Which was declared surplus under the old
Act and have not been unilised till coming into force of
the new Act will have to suffer reduction to that extent

11 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -12-

(Gurdev Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Punjab & Anr.,
1988 PLJ 317).

¾ Land of a landowner declared surplus but not utilised by
Government for resettlement of tenants would not be
automatically bad. Sher Singh Vs. Financial
Commissioner of Planning, Punjab
, 1987 (2) SCC 439.

¾ Once possession of surplus land has been taken over by
State Government and surplus land stood vested in State
Government and landowner divested of surplus land
before appointed day, he cannot recover possession by
filing application under Section 8 (1) (a). Nirbhay Singh
& Ors.Vs. State of Haryana & Ors., 2003 (2) PLJ 1.

¾ Under Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act land
declared surplus shall be deemed to have vested in State
with effect from appointed day i.e. 24.1.1971 (Thath
Singh Vs. State of Haryana
, 1986 PLJ 402)

¾ Proceedings which have become final under the Punjab
Security of Land Tenures Act
with regard to declaration
of surplus area cannot be reopened. (Dharam Pal Vs.
State of Haryana
, 2002 (2) RCR (Civil) 37).

¾ Surplus land declared under the Punjab Act vest in the
State from the date declaration, Even if the family of the
big landowner had expanded and some minors have
become major before its utilization, they are not entitled
to have their permissible area in the surplus land since
the declaration had become final (Smt. Bhagwanti Devi
& Anr. Vs. State of Haryana & Anr.
, 1994 AIR (SC)
1869)

¾ Once under Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972
stood vested in the State, mere possession of surplus land
would not create any right to claim any title in such land.



                           12 of 16
         ::: Downloaded on - 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
 RSA-311-1992 (O&M)                                               -13-

No fresh computation among the appellant and his sons is
allowed. Sampuran Singh Vs. State of Haryana &
Ors.
, 1994 AIR (Supreme Court) 2126.

¾ Decree passed in civil suit in 1974 after enforcement of
Haryana Ceiling on Land Holdings Act, 1972 has no
effect on surplus land vested in state. (Khushal Vs.
Nathu Ram
, 2000 (1) RCR (Civil) 165)

¾ There is no provision under 1972, Act to reopen the
proceedings finalised under 1953 Act. (Amar Singh Vs.
Ajmer Singh
, 1994 (3) PLR 433)

¾ Once surplus land vest with state under 1972 Act it
cannot be determined again. (Bharat Bhushan Vs. State
of Haryana & Ors.
, 1990 PLJ 563).

¾ Section 33(2)(ii) clearly provides that repeal of 1953 Act
shall not affect proceedings for determination of surplus
areas pending immediately before commencement of
1972 Act under provisions of 1953 Act which shall be
continued and disposed of as if this Act had not been
passed. (Kirpal Singh & Ors. Vs. Kamla Devi & Ors.,
2020 (11) SCC 273 & (RSA-851-1991 State of Haryana
Vs. Ram Singh (Deceased) Through LRs & Ors., date
of decision 29.02.2024)

¾ After determination of surplus area and the permissible
area in the hands of a landowner under the Punjab Law or
the PEPSU Law, death of landowner thereafter would
protect heirs in the matter of determination of surplus
area in their hands u/s 11 (5) 0f 1973. (Smt. Ajit Kaur &
Ors. Vs. The Punjab State & Ors.
, 1981 AIR (Punjab
and Haryana) 8).

¾ On the death succession opened and, therefore, the land
was required to be redetermined under the 1953 Act in

13 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -14-

the hands of legal heirs because the death took place
before the 1972 Act was enacted. Surplus area would not
vest with State of Haryana on the appointed day i.e.
24.01.1971. State of Haryana through the Collector &
Anr. Vs. M/s Universal Poultry Breeding Farm &
Anr., 2020 (2) PLR 198.

16. This Court in State of Haryana versus Universal Poultry

Farm and Another (supra) had also taken note of provisions of Section

10-A(b) of 1953 Act and had concluded that in the cited case mandate of

Section 10-A(b) of 1953 Act were applicable even with regard to area

which is part of State of Haryana. It was further held that once succession

opened before the enforcement of 1972 Act, clause (b) of Section 10-A of

1953 Act would have full play and merely 1972 Act has been enforced, it

would not be in any manner defeat the benefit and right of heirs of big

land owner by inheritance. It was duly noticed that Section 10-A(b) of

1953 Act starts with non-obstante clause. Thus, clause (b) has been

placed at a higher pedestal than other provisions and reopening and re-

determination of surplus area is envisaged in eventualities stated therein.

17. In the facts and circumstances of present case where land

declared surplus in the hand of land-owner was not utilised by State prior

to enforcement of 1972 Act, such land would not automatically vest in

State. State is bound to redetermine surplus area, if any of the conditions

stated in Section 10 A (b) of 1953 Act, exist. If conditions stipulated in

Section 10-A(b) of 1953 Act are not made out then land shall vest in

state. In case, any of the two condition stipulated in Section 10-A(b) of

1953 Act is made out, the area would be redetermined under the

14 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -15-

provisions of 1953 Act as on appointed date.

18. In view of the above discussion, it is held that in the present

case the surplus area determined in the hands of the landowner was not

utilized by the State prior to the enforcement of the 1972 Act, and

therefore the Civil Court has jurisdiction to try the issues raised by the

plaintiffs-appellants.

19. It is further held that whenever land, though declared surplus

under the 1953 Act, has not been utilized prior to the enforcement of the

1972 Act, the surplus area is required to be re-determined under Section

10-A(b) of 1953 Act. Such re-determination shall be governed by the

provisions of the 1953 Act only if any of the conditions specified under

Section 10-A(b) of 1953 Act had arisen prior to the enforcement of the

1972 Act. However, if the land stood utilized prior to the enforcement of

the 1972 Act by way of allotment and taking of possession, the same

shall vest exclusively in the State. Similarly, even where the land has not

been utilized and none of the conditions laid down under Section 10-A(b)

of 1953 Act had arisen prior to the enforcement of the 1972 Act, such

land shall also vest in the State from the appointed date, i.e., 24.01.1971.

It is only in the eventuality of any condition specified under Section 10-

A(b) of 1953 Act having arisen that re-determination is required to be

carried out as on a date immediately preceding the appointed date. In the

present case, no such exercise has been undertaken by the State. The

State was duty-bound to determine whether the surplus area was liable to

be re-determined on account of the existence of any of the conditions

enumerated under Section 10-A(b) of 1953 Act. Since this exercise has

15 of 16
::: Downloaded on – 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
RSA-311-1992 (O&M) -16-

not been carried out, the present appeal is allowed. The competent

authority shall, under the provisions of the 1953 Act in view of Section

33 repealing provisions under 1972 Act, determine whether any of the

conditions specified under Section 10-A(b) of 1953 Act had arisen in

favour of the landowner prior to the appointed date under the 1972 Act. If

such conditions are found to exist, the surplus area shall be re-determined

accordingly under the 1953 Act. In case none of the conditions specified

under Section 10-A(b) are made out, the surplus land shall vest in the

State.

20. The appeal is allowed in the above terms.

21. Pending miscellaneous application(s), if any, also stand(s)

disposed of accordingly.




30.01.2026                                            (PARMOD GOYAL)
manoj                                                     JUDGE

                    Whether speaking/reasoned         Yes
                    Whether reportable                Yes/No




                               16 of 16
             ::: Downloaded on - 14-02-2026 02:47:29 :::
 



Source link