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2008 Supreme(MP) 291
2008(3) JLJ 318
A.K. Gohil and Sanjay Yadav, JJ.
Ekta Parishad (NGO) and others v. State of M.P. and others
Writ Petition No.2646 of 2006 (PIL) (Gwalior);
Decided on 28.2.2008.
Pawan Dwivedi for petitioners;
Brijesh Sharma, Government Advocate, for State.
Headnote:(1) Constitution of India -- Art.38 -- allotment of land to landless persons under the concept of Welfare State -- is not enough -- person concerned should also be put in possession -- it is further to be seen that he gets means of livelihood.
In the petition it is submitted that pursuant to the decision of the State Government to allot land to the landless persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes, the Government has allotted land to the landless needy persons, but it was submitted that there are various irregularities in the allotment of the lands committed by the revenue authorities. Merely paper formalities have been done and no steps have been taken to see that the land is actually given in their possession to cultivate over the said land. It was further submitted that in the name of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes, Bhu-mafia and encroachers are actually enjoying the possession over the land by using their influence and muscle power and in many a case, after allotment the possession has not been handed over to them therefore, they are unable to cultivate and earn their livelihood. [Para 2
Held: The State Government has framed rules for allotment of land to the landless persons and as per the scheme the land is being allotted to the landless persons. Under the concept of Welfare State, if the land is being allotted to the landless persons, in that case merely allotment would not be sufficient, it would also be the duty of the State to ascertain that the person, in whose favour the land is allotted, is also put in actual possession and thereafter it is also the duty of the State to see that he gets means of livelihood from that land, which clearly means that he cultivates that land to earn his livelihood. For that it is also necessary to see that other facilities like irrigation, providing seed, fertilizer are also taken into consideration by the State Government under its welfare concept. It would also be the duty of the State to see that he is not dispossessed from the land either by the Bhu-mafia or by any muscle power or by the encroachers and if the land is encroached upon, it is the duty of the State to provide security and to remove the encroachment and to see that he holds possession over the land for the purpose of cultivation. [Para 19
(2) Constitution of India -- Preamble -- is part of Constitution -- commitment to provide/secure economic justice to all citizens -- particularly weaker sections including Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes should be provided means of livelihood. AIR 1973 SC 1461 followed. [Para 8
(3) Constitution of India -- Art.21 -- right to life includes right to live with human dignity and bare necessities of life such as adequate nutrition clothing, shelter, etc. AIR 1981 SC 746 followed. [Para 10
(4) Constitution of India -- Art.21 -- every person is entitled to a quality of life consistent with his human personality -- provision should be made for their protection and welfare. AIR 1988 SC 1782 followed. [Para 11
(5) Constitution of India -- Art.21 -- right of life includes right to livelihood -- income is the foundation of many fundamental rights -- when work is sole source of income, right to work becomes as much fundamental. AIR 1991 SC 101 followed. [Para 12
(6) Constitution of India -- Art.21 -- fundamental right -- includes right of food, clothing, decent environment and reasonable accommodation to live in -- difference between need of animal and human being for shelter has to be kept ill view. AIR 1990 SC 630 followed. [Para 13
(7) Constitution of India -- Arts.21, 39(e), 39(f) and 42 -- right to live with human dignity enshrined in Art.21 -- derives its life-breath from directive principles of State policy -- particularly from clauses (e) and (f) of Art.39 and from Art.42 -- it must include protection of the health and strength of workers, men and women including tender aged children. AIR 1984 SC 802 followed. [Para 14
(8) Constitution of India -- Art.21 -- right to live with human dignity -- encompasses some of the finer facets of human civilization which make life worth living. AIR 1995 SC 922 followed. [Para 15
(9) Constitution of India -- Art.21 -- in any organized society, right to live as a human being is not ensured by meeting only animal needs of man -- it is secured only when he is free from restrictions which inhibit his growth. AIR 1996 SC 1051 followed. [Para 16
(10) Constitution of India -- Art. 21 -- right to life -- includes right to livelihood -- no person can live without means of living. AIR 1986 SC 180 followed. [Para 17
(11) Constitution of India -- Art.46 -- State to promote educational and economic interest of the weaker sections of people -- in particular of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes -- directive principles of State policy are the written mandate to any Government to adopt it as policy of governance. [Para 18
¼1½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-38 && dY;k.kdkjh jkT; dh ladYiuk ds v/khu Hkwfeghu O;fDr;ksa dks Hkwfe dk vkcaVu && i;kZIr ugha && lac) O;fDr dks dCtk Hkh lkSaik tkuk pkfg, && ;g Hkh ns[kk tkuk gksxk fd mls vkthfodk dk lk/ku izkIr gksA
;kfpdk esa fuosnu fd;k x;k gS fd vuqlwfpr tkfr;ksa] vuqlwfpr tutkfr;ksa rFkk vU; fiNM+s oxksZa ds Hkwfeghu O;fDr;ksa dks Hkwfe vkcafVr djus ds jkT; ljdkj ds fofu‘p; ds vuqlj.k esa ljdkj us xjhc Hkwfeghu O;fDr;ksa dks Hkwfe vkcafVr dh gS] ijarq fuosnu fd;k x;k fd jktLo izkf/kdkfj;ksa }kjk Hkwfe ds vkcaVu esa vusdkusd vfu;ferrk,¡ dh xbZ gSA ek= dkxth vkSipkfjdrk dh xbZ gS rFkk ;g lqfuf‘pr djus ds fy, dksbZ dne ugha mBk, x, gSa fd mDr Hkwfe ij [ksrh djus ds fy, okLro esa Hkwfe muds dCts esa nh tk,A ;g Hkh fuosnu fd;k x;k fd vuqlwfpr tkfr;ksa] vuqlwfpr tutkfr;ksa rFkk vU; fiNM+s oxksZa ds uke ij Hkw&ekfQk vkSj vf/kØked vius izHkko o ckgqcy dk mi;ksx dj Hkwfe ij okLrfod dCtk fd, gq, gSa rFkk vusd ekeyksa esa vkcaVu ds i‘pkr~ mUgsa dCtk lkSaik ugha x;k gS vr%] og [ksrh djus o viuh thfodk mikftZr djus esa vleFkZ gSaA ¿ iSjk 2
vfHkfu/kkZfjr % jkT; ljdkj us Hkwfeghu O;fDr;ksa dks Hkwfe ds vkcaVu ds fy; fu;e fojfpr fd, gSa rFkk ;kstuk ds vuqlkj Hkwfeghu O;fDr;ksa dks Hkwfe vkcafVr dh tk jgh gSA dY;k.kdkjh jkT; dh ladYiuk ds v/khu] ;fn Hkwfe Hkwfeghu O;fDr;ksa dks vkcafVr dh tk jgh gS rc ml n‘kk esa ek= vkcaVu i;kZIr ugha gksxk] ;g vfHkfuf‘pr djuk Hkh jkT; dk drZO; gksxk fd ftl O;fDr fd i{k esa Hkwfe vkcafVr dh xbZ gS] mls okLrfod dCtk fn;k tk,A rRi‘pkr~ ;g ns[kuk Hkh jkT; dk drZO; gS fd mls ml Hkwfe ls thfodk dk lk/ku izkIr gks] ftldk Li"V vFkZ gS fd og viuh thfodk mikftZr djus ds fy, ml Hkwfe ij [ksrh djsA blds fy, ;g ns[kuk Hkh vko‘;d gS fd flapkbZ] cht] [kkn dk izca/k djus tSlh lqfo/kkvksa ij Hkh jkT; ljdkj }kjk viuh dY;k.kdkjh ladYiuk ds v/khu fopkj fd;k tk,A ;g ns[kuk Hkh jkT; ;dk drZO; gksxk fd mls Hkw&ekfQk }kjk ;k fdlh cgqcyh }kjk ;k vf/kØked }kjk Hkwfe ls csdCtk ugha fd;k tk, rFkk ;fn Hkwfe ij vf/kØe.k gksrk gS rc lqj{kk dk izca/k djuk vkSj vf/kØe.k gVkuk rFkk ;g ns[kuk fd og [ksrh ds iz;kstu ds fy, Hkwfe ij dCtk /kkj.kk djrk gS] jkT; dk drZO; gSA ¿ iSjk 19
¼2½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && mn~nsf‘kdk && lafo/kku dk Hkkx gS && lHkh ukxfjdksa dks vkfFkZd U;k; dk izca/k djusA lqfuf‘pr djus dh izfrc)rk && fof‘k‘Vr% detksj oxksZa dks] ftuesa vuqlwfpr tkfr;ksa] vuqlwfpr tutkfr;ksa rFkk vU; fiNM+s oxZ lfEefyr gSa] thfodk ds lk/ku fn, tkuk pkfg,A , vkb vkj 1973 ,l lh 1461 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 8
¼3½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && thou ds vf/kdkj esa ekuoksfpr xfjek ls thus dk vf/kdkj rFkk i;kZIr iks"k.k] oL=] vkJ;] vkfn tSls thou dh ewyHkwr vko‘;drk,¡ lfEefyr gSaA , vkb vkj 1981 ,l lh 746 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 10
¼4½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && izR;sd O;fDr vius ekuo O;fDrRo ls laxr thou dh xq.koÙkk dk gdnkj gS && muds laj{k.k vkSj dY;k.k ds fy, mica/k cuk, tkuk pkfg,A , vkb vkj 1988 ,l lh 1782 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 11
¼5½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && thou ds vf/kdkj esa thfodk dk vf/kdkj lfEefyr gS && vk; vusd ewy vf/kdkjksa dk vk/kkj gS && tc dk;Z vk; dk ,dek= lzksr gks] dk;Z dk vf/dkkj mruk gh ewyHkwr gks tkrk gSA , vkb vkj 1991 ,l lh 101 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 12
¼6½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && ewy vf/kdkj && Hkkstu] oL=] leqfpr i;kZoj.k rFkk jgus ds fy, ;qfDr;qDr LFkku dk vf/kdkj lfEefyr gS && vkJ; ds fy, i‘kq vkSj euq‘; dh vko‘;drk esa varj n`f"V esa j[k tkuk gksrk gSA , vkb vkj 1990 ,l lh 630 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 13
¼7½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21] 39¼³½] 39¼p½ rFkk 42 && vuqPNsn 21 esa lqjf{kr ekuo xfjek ls thus dk vf/kdkj && jkT; uhfr ds funs‘kkRed fl)karksa ls izk.k‘kfDr izkIr djrk gS && fof‘k‘Vr% vuqPNsn 39 ds [kaM ¼³½ o ¼p½ rFkk vuqPNsn 42 ls && mlesa deZdkjksa] iq:‘kksa o fL=;ksa dk] ftuesa vYik;q ds cPps lfEefyr gSa] LokLF; rFkk ‘kfDr dk laj{k.k vko‘;d :i ls lfEefyr gksuk pkfg,A , vkb vkj 1984 ,l lh 802 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 14
¼8½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && ekuo xfjek ls thus dk vf/kdkj && ekuo&lHrk ds dqN mRd`‘V i{k lfEefyr gS ftuls thou thus ;ksX; curk gSA , vkb vkj 1995 ,l lh 922 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 15
¼9½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && fdlh Hkh laxfBr lekt esa ekuo dh Hkk¡fr thus dk vf/kdkj euq‘; dh dsoy ikf‘od vko‘;drkvksa dh iwfrZ }kjk lqfuf‘pr ugha gksrk && og rHkh lqfuf‘pr gksrk gS tc og ,sls fucZa/kuksa ls eqDr gks ftuls mlds fodkl esa vojks/k gksA , vkb vkj 1996 ,l lh 1051 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 16
¼10½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-21 && thou dk vf/kdkj && thfodk dk vf/kdkj lfEefyr gS && dksbZ Hkh O;fDr thfodk ds lk/ku ds fcuk ugha th ldrkA , vkb vkj 1986 ,l lh 180 vuqlfjrA ¿ iSjk 17
¼11½ Hkkjr dk lafo/kku && vuq-46 && jkT; dks yksxksa ds detksj oxZ dk ‘kSf{kd rFkk vkfFkZd fgr izksUur djuk gksrk gS && fof‘k‘Vr% vuqlwfpr tkfr;ksa rFkk vuqlwfpr tutkfr;ksa dk && jkT; uhfr ds funs‘kkRed fl)kar fdlh Hkh ljdkj dks mls ‘kklu dh uhfr ds :i esa vaxhdkj djus ds fy, fyf[kr vkKk gSA ¿ iSjk 18
Gohil, J. -- 1. Ekta Parishad, NGO, which is a mass based social organization dedicated to the Gandhian principle of non-violence with the aim of assisting people to gain control over livelihood resources such as land, water and forest and, on the principle of Gram Swaraj, Gram Swavalamban (local self-reliance), has filed this Probono Publico Petition under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India for a relief in favour of the members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes to protect their possession over the lands allotted by the Government on patta under the various beneficiary schemes formulated by the State of M.P. and have sought further direction to remove all the encroachments from the lands allotted to them and further with a prayer to deliver possession to them and to provide security.
2. In the petition it was stated that the aforesaid Institution Ekta Parishad is working in the field to help poor and has taken up a land rights campaign to assist poor people in gaining control over their livelihood resources. It was stated that the petitioner society is working in more than 66 cities in 8 States touching 4,000 villages situated in the remote places covering the population of 30 lacs. The society is also running its social activities for upliftment of the poor members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes in all over the country and also working in the field of generating employment to the unemployed poor villagers. Social Worker Shri P. V. Rajgopal is the National Chairman of the Society and other social worker Dr. Ram Singh Parmar is the National Convener and Smt. Shriddha Kashyap, Shri Uday Bhan Singh and Dr. Harendra Sharma are also assisting them. In the petition it is submitted that pursuant to the decision of the State Government to allot land to the landless persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes, the Government has allotted land to the landless needy persons, but it was submitted that there are various irregularities in the allotment of the lands committed by the revenue authorities. Merely paper formalities have been done and no steps have been taken to see that the land is actually given in their possession to cultivate over the said land. It was further submitted that in the name of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward classes, Bhu-mafia and encroachers are actually enjoying the possession over the land by using their influence and muscle power and in many a case, after allotment the possession has not been handed over to them, therefore, they are unable to cultivate and earn their livelihood.
3. The State has not filed any detailed reply of the petition, but some reports from the districts were filed by the State Government and these reports were not found satisfactory. On 2.4.2007, this Court observed that the Collector and SP of all districts are not taking interest in this matter. Therefore, a direction was issued that the respondents State shall hold Tehsil-wise survey in every District separately, Collector of districts Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Shivpuri, Guna, Sheopur, Datia, Vidisha and Ashok Nagar, falling within the jurisdiction of this Bench, to constitute a Committee at each Tehsil level within 15 days and will submit the monthly reports to the Collectors and Collectors will submit the report to the High Court on affidavit. It was further directed that Tehsil level committee will include Tehsildar, SDO or senior most police officer, agricultural extension officer, land record officer and forest officer posted at Tehsil. Collectors will supervise the work of committee. The Tehsil level committee will make survey of entire Tehsil and prepare a report that how much land on pattas have been allotted to the members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes including OBCs for their livelihood, whether the patta holders are actually in possession over the said land or land has
