In Brief
A holder of agricultural land disclosed that another person (his mother-in-law, Jenobai) had filed a pending title suit claiming part of his property in his return under land ceiling law. The competent authority proceeded to declare the disputed land as surplus without serving notice on Jenobai or awaiting the court's decision. After the civil suit was decided in Jenobai's favour, leaving the holder with less land than the ceiling limit, he challenged the surplus declaration. The Supreme Court held that once a pending title suit is disclosed, the authority must serve notice on the interested party and await the court's verdict before declaring land surplus. Non-compliance with these statutory procedures was a breach. The Court allowed the appeal, set aside the surplus declaration, and held that the civil court decree was binding on the authority.
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