In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld that common grazing land recorded as 'Charnoi' in revenue records automatically vests in the State upon abolition of the zamindari system, belonging to villagers and not the former zamindar. The Court held that the exception saving cultivated 'khud-kasht' land and 'groves' under the Madhya Bharat Abolition of Zamindari Act, 1951, does not apply to common grazing land. Since the land was recorded as 'Charnoi' (common grazing land) and not as a grove, and had been used for villagers' cattle grazing for over a century, it vested in the State. The trial court's decree in favour of villagers was affirmed, and the ex-zamindar's descendants had no right to claim ownership.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.