G. P. SINGH, C. J.

( 1 ) SMT. Padmavati Devi, the petitioner in this petition, is the wife of Shri birendra Bahadur Singh who is the ex-Ruler of the Indian State Khairagarh. This State merged with the Central Provinces and Berar on 1st January 1948. Before the merger, the Ruler by a Sanad dated 29th Dec. 1947 granted a perpetual lease of forest area comprising of 5585 acres situated within bodratola block in favour of the petitioner. An agreement was reached between the ex-Ruler of Khairagarh and the Premier of the Central Provinces and Berar on 19th June 1948 in which the forest lease granted in favour of the petitioner was recognised. On coming into force of the Constitution on 26th January 1950, the Central Provinces and Berar became the State of Madhya Pradesh. On 23rd june 1953, a perpetual lease was executed in favour of the petitioner by the governor of Madhya Pradesh in recognition of the lease granted by the Sanad. The only difference between the grant made under the Sanad of the Ruler and the lease executed by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh is that under the former the petitioner was not liable to pay any annual rent; but under the new lease the petitioner became liable t

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