In Brief
The Supreme Court struck down a Bihar law that attempted to take over a historic library founded in 1924 by Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha (first Interim President of India's Constituent Assembly). The law dissolved the private trust managing the institution and vested all assets in the State, offering only one rupee compensation. The Court found the law manifestly arbitrary and violative of equality rights, as there was no evidence of mismanagement, no prior inquiry, and the State's own appointed official already supervised operations. The Court ruled the legislature cannot acquire property through such excessive, unreasoned, and disproportionate measures without demonstrated necessity or fair compensation.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.