#land use classification

The Kerala High Court has ruled that a Grama Panchayat cannot reject a building permit solely on the grounds that land is classified as 'plantation' if the application satisfies all other legal and zoning conditions. This reinforces that administrative decisions must be grounded in substantive compliance, not arbitrary land categorizations, affecting developers and local bodies across Kerala.

MP High Court affirms that stamp duty valuation under Section 47-A of the Indian Stamp Act must be based on revenue records and spot inspection, even if the land is classified as agricultural. The ruling reinforces the Collector's authority to determine market value, impacting property transactions where land use classification is disputed.

Andhra Pradesh High Court holds that land classified as Brown Zone (Hills) without geographical basis is arbitrary; authorities must rectify such errors in master plans within 12 weeks.