In Brief
A dispute arose over agricultural land in West Bengal involving overlapping claims: the original owner's heirs, patta holders (registered tenants) who acquired pattas in 1980, and a subsequent purchaser (the appellant) who bought the land in 1987. After a High Court order in 1973 set aside certain proceedings, the State issued pattas to respondents 1 and 2. In 1990, the original heirs sought mutation, and in 2000, a Tribunal directed cancellation of the respondents' pattas without hearing them. The High Court set aside the Tribunal's order for violation of natural justice, holding the patta holders had a right to be heard. The Supreme Court dismissed the appellant's appeal, affirming that patta holders must be afforded an opportunity to defend their registered interests before cancellation.
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