JOGIBHAI MANGALBHAI TANDEL ETC. versus THE MAMLATDAR AND AGRICULTURAL LAND TRIBUNAL, PARDL AND ANR.

These three appeals raise comm.on question of law of some importance as regards the agrarian reforms in the State of Gujarat. The facts in C.A. No. 1886/88 are sufficient for disposal of these appeals.

p. 734, margin G

The appellant had purchased 7 acres, 9 gunthas of land in Moria Village of Pardi Taluk, District Valsad of State of Gujarat on November rl, 1967 without obtaining permission from the Mamlatdar as required under s.63 of the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948, for short 'the Act'. Proceedings were initiated for his ejectment from the land for purchase made contrary to s.63 which went against him. Consequently he filed Special Civil Appln. No. 653/79. The High Court by common judgment. dated February 9, 1988 dismissed the same alongwith other matters. Thus this appeal by Special leave

pp. 734–735, margin H

Shri Bobde, learned Senior counsel for the appellant contended that under Art. 19(1)(e) of the Constitution he has a right to reside and settle down at any place throughout the territory of India. The appellant, therefore, had right to acquire and hold any property within the State of Gujarat, though he did not had any land there nor did he personally reside at the date of the sale in the village Moria. He is an agriculturist in Nani Daman and being an agriculturist he is entitled to purchase the lands in Moria. Section 63 of the Act does not contemplate prior permission. Even after the purchase he can seek the permission and seek validation of the purchase. Therefore, the view taken by the High Court is in contravention df his fundamental right under Art. 19(1) ofthe Constitution, as a citizen. We find no force in the contention.

p. 735, margin B

Chapter V the Act deals with restrictness on transfer of agricultural lands, management of uncultivable lands and acquisition of estates and lands. Section 63(1) provides that:

p. 735, margin E

"63(1) Save as provided in this Act - (a) no sale (including sales in execution of a decree of a Civil Court or fo~ recovery of arrears of land revenue or for sums recoverable as arrears of land revenue), ·gift, exchange or lease of any land or interest therein, or (b) no mortgage of any land or interest therein, in which the possession of the mortgaged property delivered to the mortgagee, shall be valid in favour of a person who is not an agriculturist or who being an agriculturist will, after such sale, gift, exchange, lease or mortgage; hold land exceeding the ceiling area determined under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961, as amended by the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Lowering of Ceiling on Holding~) and (Amendment) Act, 1972

pp. 735–736, margin E

or who is not an agricultural labourer." (The proviso and explanation and other sub-sections are not necessary for the purpose of this case, hence omitted).

p. 736, margin A

'Agriculturist' has been defined in S. 2(2) of the Act to mean -"unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, a person who cultivates land personally''. Section 2(5) defines "to cultivate with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions means to till or husband the land for the purpose of raising or improving agricultural produce, whether by manual labour or by means of cattle or 1'].achinery, or to carry on any agricultural operation thereon; and the expression "uncultivated" shall be construed correspondingly." (Explanation is not necessary, hence omitt~d).

p. 736, margin B

Section 2( 6) defines "to cultivate personally'' means to cultivate land on one's own account - (i) by one's own labour, or (ii) by the labour or any member of one's family, or (iii) under the personal supervision of oneself or any member of one's family by hired labour or by servants on wages payable in cash or kind but not in crop share, • being land, the entire area of which - (a) is situated within the limits of a single village, 01: (b) is so situated that no piece of land is separated from another by a distance of more than five miles, or

p. 736, margin C

(c) forms one compact block:" (Proviso and explanations are not necessary for the purpose of this case, hence omitted).

p. 736, margin F

Section 2(20) defines "village" to mean a village recognised as such in the revenue accounts. Sectiol). 2(21) postulates that "Words and explanation used in this Act but not defined shall have the meaning -assigned to them in the Bombay Land Revenue Code, 1879 and the Transfer of Property act, 1882, as the case may be".

pp. 736–737, margin G

Thus, on a conjoint and harmonious reading of s.63 and the definitions, it would appear that the purpose of the Act is an agrarian reform restricting holding of the land by the agriculturist who cultivates the land in the manner defined under the Act. He is also entitled to own the land or cultivate on lease in accordance with the provisions of the Act. But as a condition to purchase the land s.63 prescribed restriction. The restriction is that he should be an agriculturist and should hold the land within the village as per the village accounts under the Bombay Land Revenue Code and also in a compact block either at a single. or at different places, but within 5 miles from the village in which the principal lands are situated. The object thereby appears to be that even a permanent resident of the Gujarat State has been prohibited to purchase the lands outside the village within a radius of file miles from the village. The reason appears to be to discourage concentration of large holdings in the hands of few individuals and distribution of the material resources of the comniunity to subserve the commongood as envisaged under Art. 39( d) of the Constitution. Being an agrarian reform to confer the right to cultivation of the lands to the agriculturist with a view to improving the economic and social conditions of the peasants and to ensure the full and efficient use of the land for agriculture, the Act came to be made and as a part of its scheme restriction on the holding and purchase also has been imposed. Thereby we hold that it is a reasonable restriction within the. meaning of clauses 2, 5 and 6 of Art. 19 confirmable to the right of the agriculturist to· hold the land for personal cultivation within the limits prescribed under the Statute.

p. 737, margin A

Therefore, we do not find any contravention of the fundamental rights of any citizens much less than the citizens in the State of Gujarat other than those who reside within. the parameters prescribed under the Act.

p. 737, margin E

The appeals are accordingly dismissed, but in the circumstances, without costs. G.N. Appeals dismissed.

p. 737, margin F