#land classification

The Kerala High Court has ruled that an authorised officer cannot approve or reject a Form-5 application under the Paddy Land Rules by merely accepting a subordinate’s report. The officer must independently review satellite data and conduct a physical inspection as mandated by Rule 4(4f), ensuring procedural integrity in land use decisions. This sets a critical precedent for administrative accountability in environmental land regulation across Kerala.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that when revenue records conclusively prove land is irrigated, authorities cannot arbitrarily split it into irrigated and unirrigated parcels for compensation purposes. This ensures fair market value under the Land Acquisition Act, protecting landowners from arbitrary valuation and reinforcing the primacy of official land records over administrative discretion.

High Court of Kerala holds that authorised officers must personally inspect land or obtain satellite imagery under Rule 4(4f) of Kerala Conservation Rules, 2008, to lawfully reject Form-5 applications.