JUDGMENT :

Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, J.

This judgment has been divided into sections to facilitate analysis. They are:

A Introduction

1. This appeal has arisen from a judgment dated 31 May 2018 of a Single Judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad. By the impugned judgment, the High Court dismissed a petition under Article 226 filed by the appellant, seeking a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing an order dated 31 March 2012 of the District Registrar/Additional Collector (Finance and Revenue), Bareilly¹["District Registrar"], who is the first respondent in the present appeal. During the pendency of this appeal, the appellant has passed away and has been substituted by her legal heir, by an order of this Court dated 9 December 2021.

2. At the heart of this dispute is a certain piece of land admeasuring 3,793 square yards, situated a