The creation of Revenue Villages must adhere to naming policies to maintain communal harmony, and notifications violating these policies lack legal sanctity.

JUDGMENT :

ALOK ARADHE, J.

Leave granted.

2. This appeal challenges the judgment dated 05.08.2025 passed by a Division Bench of the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan by which appeal preferred by respondent nos. 6 to 9 was allowed and order dated 11.07.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge has been set aside. For a proper appreciation of controversy, the relevant facts, in brief, may be noted.

3. The appellants and respondent Nos. 6 to 9, are residents of village Sohda, District Barmer in the State of Rajasthan.

4. Pursuant to a proposal submitted by the Gram Panchayat Sohda, for the creation of new Revenue Villages, the Tehsildar Gida (Land Records), District Barmer, issued certificates dated 24.12.2020 stating that he had personally and thoroughly verified all the relevant aspects, concerning formation of four new Revenue Villages, namely (i) Nainoni Darziyon Ki Dhani, (ii) Sagatsar, (iii) Amargarh and (iv) Hemnagar carved out of Meghwalon Ki Dhani, Revenue Village Sohda, Patwar Mandal Sohda, District Barmer. It was specified therein that the headquarters of Revenue Villages Sagatsar and Amargarh would be at Khasra Nos.118 and 73. The certificate further recorded that the proposed villages were not associated with any individual, religion, caste or community and there existed no dispute regarding their creation. On the same day, Tehsildar forwarded the proposal to the District Collector (Land Records), Barmer.

5. On 24.12.2020 and 29.12.2020, one Amarram and Badli Kunwar, wife of Sagat Singh, executed affidavits that they agree to donate the land for proposed Revenue Villages, namely Amargarh and Sagatsar.

6. The State Government, in exercise of the powers under Section 16 of the Rajasthan Land Revenue Act, 1956 (hereinafter, referred to as the ‘the Act’) issued a notification on 31.12.2020 and created several new Revenue Villages. In the said notification, Amargarh and Sagatsar from Meghwalo Ki Dhani, Revenue Village Sohda, Patwar Mandal Sohda, District Barmer, were notified as separate Revenue Villages. Consequent thereto, the District Collector on 14.01.2021 issued an order specifying the area and population of the newly constituted Revenue Villages.

7. On 10.01.2025, the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Government of Rajasthan, issued directions for reorganization, re-demarcation and creation of the new Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis, authorising the District Collectors to act under Sections 9 , 10 and 101 of Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. In furtherance thereof, a public notice dated 07.04.2025, was issued inviting objections. An objection dated 21.04.2025 was submitted by villagers of Meghwalo ki Dhani, asserting that the names of new Revenue Villages, namely ‘Amargarh’ and ‘Sagatsar’ were derived from the names of individuals.

8. The appellants approached the High Court by filing a Writ Petition challenging the validity of the notification dated 31.12.2020, insofar as it related to the creation of Revenue Villages, namely Amargarh and Sagatsar.

9. The learned Single Judge by an order dated 11.07.2025, held that the names of Revenue Villages were derived from the names of individuals, namely Amarram and Sagat Singh, who had also agreed to donate the land. The learned Single Judge by placing reliance on two Single Bench decisions of the High Court in Moola Ram v. State of Rajasthan (S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.3470/2025) decided on 18.02.2025 and Joga Ram & Anr. v. State of Rajasthan & Ors., (S.B. Civil Writ Petition No.7275/2025) decided on 08.05.2025 quashed the notification dated 31.12.2020 qua the Revenue Villages, namely Amargarh and Sagatsar.