In Brief
The Union of India appealed against an order that found it guilty of land grabbing under the Andhra Pradesh Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 1982. The respondents claimed ownership of 7128.5 sq. yards of land, relying partly on findings in a previous suit where only 4971.5 sq. yards was disputed. The Supreme Court held that res judicata does not apply between co-defendants when the subject matters are distinct and the earlier decree concerned only the land sold, not the remaining land retained by the respondents' father. The Union proved valid title through State transfer (1956) and possession delivery (1958), evidenced by official records carrying statutory presumption of correctness. The Union was therefore not a land grabber. The appeal was allowed and the land grabbing application dismissed.
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