#mutation of land

Calcutta High Court rules that mutation proceedings under the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955, are purely administrative and cannot be stayed due to pending civil suits or status quo orders. The judgment clarifies that revenue authorities must proceed with mutation applications regardless of title disputes before civil courts, ensuring timely updates to land records.

The Madurai High Court has ruled that failure to update revenue records does not invalidate a land purchaser’s claim for compensation when they hold a registered sale deed. This affirms that title under the Transfer of Property Act prevails over administrative record-keeping, protecting bona fide buyers from being denied rightful compensation in acquisition proceedings.

The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that prolonged non-use of land acquired for a public purpose-here, a BARC facility abandoned since 2004-violates the constitutional right to property under Article 300-A. Authorities must release such land or face judicial intervention, setting a binding precedent against bureaucratic inertia in land acquisition processes affecting thousands of landowners nationwide.

Madhya Pradesh High Court clarifies that Tahsildars lack jurisdiction to determine validity of wills; disputes must be resolved in civil court under Hindu Succession Act.