In Brief
The State of Madhya Pradesh appealed against a High Court judgment that had upheld a trial court's decree in favor of Ghisilal (respondent). The respondent sought a declaration that surplus agricultural land declared under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976 remained free from the Act's provisions because possession had not been taken. The Supreme Court held that the ULC Act is a self-contained code with exclusive jurisdiction; final orders by the competent authority declaring land as surplus cannot be challenged in civil courts. Since possession had been validly taken (evidenced by a panchnama), the suit was wholly unmaintainable. The Court allowed the appeal, setting aside all lower court judgments and dismissing the respondent's suit."
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