In Brief
A former Zamindar claimed Bhumiswami (ownership) rights over land recorded as 'Grass' land in revenue papers before zamindari abolition. The Trial Court rejected the claim, finding the land was not recorded as khud-kasht (self-cultivated) land. The High Court reversed this, but the Supreme Court restored the Trial Court's judgment. The Court held that under the Madhya Pradesh Zamindari Abolition Act, pakka tenancy and bhumiswami rights attach only to land recorded as khud-kasht. Since the disputed land was recorded as 'Grass' in the non-cultivated ('Alavajot') column, it vested in the State and no ownership rights could be claimed. The High Court erred in interfering with the Trial Court's factual findings."
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