V.D.S.R.Re.Rolling Mill vs The Special Commissioner And ... on 10 July, 2012
In R.Chandevarappa & Others v. State of Karnataka reported in 1995 (6) SCC 309, the correctness of an order passed by the Assistant Commissioner, cancelling the assignment, found to be in violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands Act, 1975 and Revenue Code 43(5), was challenged. The appellant before the Supreme Court claimed that he had purchased the property from the sons and daughters of the assignee. Assignment was made to a member, belonging to Scheduled Caste community on 16.11.1951. Alienation was done on 16.10.1968. All the authorities, including the Division Bench of Karnataka High Court, confirmed the order of cancellation of the assignment. The main contentions of the appellant therein were that, the Act came into existence in the year 1978 and therefore, it has no retrospective operation. Alienation made prior to the Act cannot be set aside. Adverse possession was also pleaded. Per contra, it was the contention of the State that the prohibition for alienation of assigned land always remained and therefore, limitation would not run against the Government, when it was sold. It was further contended that as the alienation was in contravention of rule 43(5) of the Revenue Code, the appellant therein does not get any title to the land. The plea of adverse possession was also repudiated on the ground that adverse possession does not arise against the State.