\,

'(1·~ #}· .:). ;. "· ·.. ...

1) MAR~ltl
I
,on

IN THE SUPPE'L~ COUR'J: ~EM DELH

------
Film..: • - -"
f..:_

A.
~
PErIT ION HO. OF 1970

( Under i>rticle 32 of the ConstitutJj_on of India )

nis Holiness Keshavananda

Bharathi Srip2dang2.lavaru,
Swemij i or Eduieer Hutt,
...., Pe.di Villege, Kas crc;od T 2.lu!.{
I Cannuiore District,
.) Kerala State. -- P 3:r IT I ONER
versus

~)The State of Ker2.lu b~· the

Secretc.ry to G0Yernmc.11t

l
of Ker2l2, P'-'venue
Dep~~ent.
~f:!e Ul~ion of Indic. th;·o 1.1Gh
· Secretc.ry }'iinistry of )
Home .1Ufr.irs, New Delhi. - - ) F ESP DN;:JZl'i.I' S •

To

The Hon 1 ble Sh:-i l.f. ''id,,yc.t '.1112.h

-' Chief Justice of In,d~, md his
Compcnion Justices of the Supreme
Court of Indic: l'.ew Jcilhi.

T:1E ;crmrnLE P:.TI'ITIOl:IJF '.I'~{:!!:

p ril ri: ION EH !~~av-:. N.~V:.1.ID
MOST F.ZSP .:X:'lI'iJLLY

S H E W ET H:-

1. This is en ccpplic<::tio:1 for t:B ec1force-

ment of the fundcrnentci.l ri::;h·~s of t:ie petitioner
under .i.rticles 25, 26 7 14, 19(l)(f) 21:.d 31 of the

~.sftr.
 2

Constitution of Indic: by ti:le iss u2nce of c.

writ of Mc.ndom us or uny otl10 '.c npp roi: ri& te
writ, direction 01 o:rde: .;.ir-ecting the
State of Ke re.le. to fo ;be.::. from enforcing
the provisions of trn Ker,·l L'..nd r-efo!111S

-ct, 1963 1 ( •• ct I of 1964) 1s rmertcled by the

Kernla L<md F.efo:rms ( J.menC:ment) .. ct, 1969
(~ct X:XXV Of 1969).

2. '.!:he petitioner is a citizen of India.

He is the Mc~tmlhip a thy of Bd;meer Mltt in
Villc.ge Padi 1 Kas.::ri;ode Tr.luk 1 Curutt-110re
District, Kerc.lc: Strlte. 'rhe Mutt w•.;3 :founled

by the Th:rot<.:.g~chc:rin:r wJ:io w<.s one of the

four mc:in C:isciplies of .. di S :::nk2rr. for

Philosophy. Thus the ori:::;i:.1 of the >!utt

The Bd.211eer Mutt is est;,.;;lis:1eJ by :n.l

for the i.Jenefi t of thcJ J:eli:;io us c:;:o;:'lominction
of Shivclli Br:bmins who -:.:re follo~re:rs of the
tecchin::ss of Sh:ri 3 .nkc;~" ch,·ryr.. From
time inuacmorir:l ti1e c..::ministrc.tion of the
Mutt is vesteC: in. the Swc.miars ;::nd their
successors. The incumbent who is tc bec::-ine
the !is,-.·: of thv :Iutt must bo n r B~:lL

Brc:bm<::ch .. ri' bcJlonging to tho Shivr.lli

 3

Brcbmin commu..'1ity. It is CLJ.stomcrY for the

Head of the Mutt when in :;_r_~v~v1ced E.ge to

choose r. proper ~:n~; worthy successor, give

him n0c0ssarY trcining u1C: o:rc:cin him

..,
\ a Sw2.lnic:r. The p 0tit ioner s ttcceeded cs Head

j_

• 3• In the Mutt the, instuJ)_eU. Jeitios

moorthy for whom C1.ily Poojrcs with full

immemo ri rJ. us ego cJ.'Ci c us to:.J , r0 p e rf:i y,J.eJ.

There are monthly cnC: an;.1u::l Dts~_V,,'llS as
well cs speci::.l UtsavQ)lls. __ tt<:~hed to the
Edaneer Mutt is the Shri 'J:richsmbcrr.
Mutt in 'h1lipanmba Trlul-c >1l1:ich is also
edministereJ by the Peticio;h1r, There

are five temples, viz. (1) ..11$1lth,~.pur<'. 3hri

Pac:mu.1;:.bhr, Temple, at Ko:nnuru, (2) Yednir
Shasth<o1vu 'I'emple c:t Padi, (3) •• jj av2.ra
J Mahishasura Mc.rflhini Temple r.t J.\uttatho li,
(4) Kaciumane Bhavetthi TGmple, at ;.r~oor,

and (5) Yednir Vishnumc:ngal~ TE•mple c.t Padi,

which o.re all owned, ad.minis te1·ed wd
maintnineu by the '.··lutt c:nC:_ where at
Daily Poojas and periodic festivals as
prescribed by the 3hastre.s anJ.. USc:(!;e are
regularly perforrrkJ anc.: observed. ~·':1e Mutt
 4

also ovrns and maintains 14 Deivasthanams,

viz. (1) Ch2mbrcunpccJi Visbr..u i.lcivasthena'"J
at Padi, (2) KL1rkap2di .J2ivasthane..rn at
'
~

.... Padi(4) GQcldonrnne 1.leivasl:;"1_cL1~m at P di,

~ • (5) Kadl.llllana Baywacl'l ,:,,Jiv'-st:L~n:;:m c.t .• door,
~

• v<
(6) Chekkodu F.akteshwari Jeiv2.sth,cn2;i1 :ct
Muliyer, (7) Koll2J11kottc'l,L'3_cl Bc:.yc.;12c.iu
Deivasthonam at Pc.di (8) Ferdal Chullichenudi
Deivesth:::mom at Padi, (9) Krntupalc,
Chamucii Dei vasthc:nam 2t Pe.di, ( 10)

at Pacli, (11) Chap20.i Bnyanadu .:ieivasth~nao

at Muliy,1r ( 12) J cm be i.l urg c.p e.r3llleshwari

Deiw:.sti1311om c.t Muliy[1r, (13) Pottiptlc; 3hc.stPvu
Dei vc:sthanam at Nekraj c, anC: ( 14) Ke=angai

. .. -
Bakteshwari Dei vc:sth2ntn A.t P adi •

4. The Mutt is a sect o:._' lea.ring for the

-•....-
.
propagation o1 the tenets o:': -Ji S2.I'_kc.n...
It has a.lso establishel c,:.l is c:clnir.istering
an educational instutito_. kno-,m c.s ti1e
H.H.s.r.B.S.High School P2arby in '.·l1ich
r!indu Peligion c'lld Sansj:rit Ertl also taught.
The school doe:o· not r0caivo .-_.x:y gr,nt-in-
2.id from the Strte md its 0rtire e.xpemliture
has to b 0 met by tl>e : l i.:.t t. ' ree "li 1-dr.y
meals nre provided to [11 the students .No
fee is collected.
r . ---

s. The ~1utt owns extensive lar,.i.ed

p rope rti es sit uc:te in K1 s <.' :r_, oJ. T cl •ik,

Cennore :Uistrict, in the Ker<ll<:: Stote. The
properties are i"ully spccifi·od in the
Schec!u10s below ••.11 tte p:ro::ierties
( belong to nncl <:ri:J vested i11 the petitioner
~---
as its ;'l[atndhipathy: 01:J. s ta-:iJ in the

• n~e of the Petitioner as Pct.ta.Jar. Tl:e

properties comprise 348 acres of Pc.Jdy
lnn2 oi which 332 acres are leased out to
tenrnts, 114 acres of Gr>r•.ien Lmu. bearir:g
Coconut anJ ~~recnr1ut trees otr which 69
acres are leased oit a..,J :219 01cres of D rY
lanu. bear"'1g c.,shdw, Jack, n:<ngo mu other
trees of which 124 acres ,,:-e leased out.
Thus most of the p:r-opert~r (E,25, ) is leased
out anct there ::.re 2::04 tencnts in J l . 1he
tencn.ts pay contrc1ct rent E\S per their
respective lease deeJ.s. 'i"he tot<::l ann:.tal
rentnl income of tbe petitioner is l, 116
J
Quint2ls of P<:Ju.y, 6890 K,c;s.. of ;~recanut, 161

Kgs. Pepper, 3633 coconuts anu. cash

Ps. 1,439/- all of which if commuted in

terms of money would <::ggreg;"-te D.pproxim2.tely

i.. 6. The an:r u:::l tot2l exp 2ndi tu:re incurred

by the petitioner is Ps. 1,13,000/- bro,,Jly

mc:de up as follows:-
 6

For Puj as and festivals in

Hutt, tenpl&s nnu
De i vas than :o.ms. 45,000/..
Snlnries etc. to )·lutt

J • Rs 32.,500/..

·•
High '.:chool I:stc;blist:wr,t Rs 16,000/..
Upkeep ar.i 1rc:intenanc~ -:if

Vahrnas, Parapheran~liR Q~~

other moveables. Rs 7,000/-

Lnnd Fevenae, -~axeJ ti:c.

contribution an..t :.uliic fee

Board. Rs 1:,000/-
Postage, P1·inting etc. :,soo

There c.re no other e;1uowr.1e~1ts for the

Mutt and the entire d.XpenU.itu:re o~-i the rituals,

ceremonies, festivals an:. the customary
Viniyogas hes to b€ met o;·:il·"ly from the income
from its L:nued properties an<~ if such
income is either red11ced or Jenied to tte Mutt
even for a yeccr, all the religiot;vi agamas,
rituals anv. ceremonies will have -~o be stoppeci
and the Mutt and the sci:ool closed. Inspite
of legislation enc.cted by the Ke:ralc'
Legislature from time to time prCJ•ri<.ing for
I ,·.;, .

r
.....,........ --- ~·····...-·-

fixation of Fc.ir rent nnu for st2yin5 the

payment of rent from tir.JCJ to time, m·JSt of the
tenants of the p2titionc;:r 1 s Z.1utt h<V~ been
p <.:Ying the Contn:.ct ren-~ c.i.is regc,rdiln~ the
temptation to withhoL1 , 0nts in accordence
with the dir·ections of tn2 Kerr.la Legislature

• so that the Mu-l;t might c:mt:L1uE; to :p•.erform its

religious ceremonies ::nd oenevolent functions
without any 11inur211ce OJ.' obstruction. '.Ihe
net income from the properties under the
direct cul ti vat ion woul~ hoi:rJly s ufficice
to meet even two months' expenses of tte
Mutt.
7~ In 1900 the Ke:rala LegisletU;re
enacted the Ke:rala •• gn:rirui Felatiops •• ct
which w2s sponsored by the Co=unisrt l}overn-
ment then in power. This Fion 1 bl8 Court by its
J"ucigment in KLrinbil Lunl1ikoman vs. State

of Kerala (1962 ) S'.lPP• 1 S.C•P• 82!~;

;
st ruck ·iown the •. ct ~-s u;_1cons tit utiona::..
Thereafter tt.:J Stete ldgisl. ture enccted the
Kerala Land fooforms .• ct, 1963 ( .• ct I of
1964 ) which received ?residenticl .... ssent
on 31-12- 1963.

8. .~ccoru.ing to its p:re:arJble the Kerala

Land Fefo:rms ,.ct, 1963, was enactell as a
.,... - . 1""" ···-

cornprouensive 10gislrtion reL.itin to :).md

refo1ms in the Stc.te of Kerr.lr:. Chepter I
of the •. ct contained dc:fini tions. Ch2pter II
( containing s0ctions 31 to 80) relat~d to
1
ten2ncies' By Secticr: 13 f:ixity of tenur<i
1-rns conf'lrreil on tenwits. s~ction 53 conferreC:.
on ccltiv2ting ten2nts t.1e o·ight to pn:ci1ase

• Purchase Price :is -... ete,·mil1ed by the Lo.'ld

Tribunal. Sections 65 t::; 71 cont<dned

1 sp .3cic-l provisions rel ':tin., to rc:l,i gious,
Chari table anJ au l].CatianEJ. :i.nsti tut ions of
a public nc:tur"• Sectior,s 65 confc.rred on a
land o;mer ;ih:: ch we;s G :·.alit,ious, cn•1:rit2.bls or
educational ins ti tut ion of a public nature,
the option to choose whether its right, title
and interest in rilspect of 12.nd held by
cultivating tenants shoul~ be vested in the
Governmer:t in consi1lerL1'cion of th0 p2y111ent

rnent, or ·.rhethe1 i;~:: rights lilclY bE: pe:roitted

to be purchaseu from t .f: ic1s~itution by the
ccltivating tenants on payraent of P·1:rchase
Price. lJn~er Sect:Lons 66 ru1c.. 69 tba instit..ition
could exercise its opti::x1 of requiring
thE.t its interest shoulJ ;-,e vested L.'1
 r

Governnent on payoent of Jr: S<nnuity in

perpetuity by the Goverrun·:c:t either by
makiJ1g an application in th, t benalf to the
Government or on receipt oS' <'. notice fron
the La.nu '.f'ribunc:l thc.t CLY c'iltivating tenant
.. .~

• institution's right, title .:.rll\ interest

in his holu.i..'1g. If the institLttion1 s
rights were acquired by the Goverrr1ent
the institution Wc<S entitled to be paiJ. by
the Gove:rm'lent 811 31muity in p<3rpetuity for
a sum equal to the annual rent which the
Institution w2s untitled to r·<'~eive imr::kidiately
before 21-l- 62 less 21% deductior: as

,,
;.• ·-·-""-
collection charges. If the above option was
not exerci>ed by the institution, the
institution woulc. be entitled· to purch2se
Price fror.i t:ie cul ti vatiILg ·c011ants ':Jhich
unJ.er Section 5b w2s thr' at,·:regate of

(i) sixteen t1''1es the fc.i:r rent;

(ii) value Of structures et1c.;
(iii) 1/2 of the value of t:itbe r t:r-ees

belonging to lan~ oimer.

Under Section 2'7 tbe 1 f2h, ;rent• was the rent

calculated accor'linr to Sect:j.on III of the

-~···--~
• 5;
 10

-.ct or the contract rent 11hic:1ever ~ro.s

less. Section 72 empoue!'eQ. bhe Govern.:ient

by notificc.tior1 to lec2.2r0 thcit the right,
title u1ci. interest of the L·_ri~ owner in
respect of holJ.in;;s whic> bLl<~i not been
p urchcsed by tl1e cul ti VE ting tona'lts sh2ll

• vest in the cultiv<::.ting tenunts whe:reupon

the 01.rner' s only right woulJ be the paynent
of Purchase Price by the cultivating
tenc:mt. Chllpter III of the •• ct ( Sections
81 to 98) rel2ted to thu imposition of
ceiling :ire2. for r fanily ' and r C..iLtlt
unmarrie~ person'. Section 84 invr:J.ijated
voluntary transfers of l211t', oaJe before
15- 9_ 196.3, by a family or cU1 inJi v:'.Judl
owni.rig land in GXcess of tr.e ceiliLfj;.
Section 83 prohibited tbre owning or holding
of la:c,;. in ex cus2 of the ceiling with

J effect ;yon s U'~h ::.cc-,te 2s LlGY be noti:'ied.

Section 85 reqL'.ired thc.t l::,'1._;_ held :i11
excess of tbe cE>iling shcJ.l be surr$nj_9red.
Tbt: s urr·ende:reu le;inl 1'oulJ vest in 1the
Stute subject only tc the :right of p ?:rsons
surrendering it to be-puid compens2tion
accoru.ing to sections 88 to 95. The ln:cl
tllus 2cqui:red ws.s to be distributed to
 "

.i
!
'
f--:
II
''
11
I

landless agricultural laoourers ahu otters,

Section 81, however, exe2:oted certrcin lar.us
from the ceiling pr0visicr.s of Ghc:pter III •
••\ 1 Plcn.~tctions r ( "J.oc.r.ing lr.nd used
i
princip<;lly fo'." t'L c·.ltivation of te::>., coffee,
- .... _.,,..L

•
cocoa, :rubter, c,;rJc:nom o' cir_ncr.ton)
Coshew estates of 10 ::.cres or more in
extent, pepper garJens anJ arecuut
gardens of 5 c:cres or more 1·1tJre thus

ex empted. ,;y section 81( 1) lwJ owr.e'~ or

held by a religious, ch i'itablJ er .·1uc<etion~l

institution of c. p11blic na.tur'3 v.lETe c>.lso

exempt from the ceiling provisions.

9. Thus under the Keral2 Lan" Peforms

Act, 1963, as originally eac;cted, the
position of the petitioner was a3 follows:-
The lnds belong in~: to the Mutt we :re

wholly exempt from the ceiling provisions

j
of Chapter III. fiowever, the l!urtt lands
which had been leased out were governed by
the s:~ecial provisions containec. in Sections
65 to 71 unaer which the petitioner hc:d the
option to choose that his :right. title and
interest in such lanJ shoulJ be acc:uired
by Government in cons iu.o J'c~tion :if a r
I,,
perpetual annuity for a scun equal ·;o the
annual rent he was receivil1:; from his tenants
before 21-1- 1962.
~
i-----
1

12

10. By notification iss uecc uno.eT Section

1(3) on 25-3- 196±, Sections 2 to 71, 73 to
82, 84, 99 to 108 anJ 110 to 132 of Kerala

the Land Reforms <.ct, 1963 were broi.:;ht

into force fror.i 1-4- 19Eh.

11. 011 20-6- 1964 the Constitution

• ( Seventeenth ii..11endment) ;.co;, 1964, was

enacted by wtic;1 the KeraL Lanu reforms Let,
1963 1 was incl:1ded as :!.tern '.fo,39 in the
IX Sci1edule to the Constitution.

12. '.I'he Kerala Larid Pefo~:ns J.ct, 1C'63

( hereiLafter refer:red to as Principal

..
Act) has been amendeu several tirr.es. The
amendments made by let XII of 1966
anu Act IX of 1967 are not o~ m8teria1

··--~-

• importance for the purposes of tbis petition,

But in 1368, the U1:ited Front which was
then in power in Kera1a 1 dominated by the
Marxists, introu.uced a Bill. in the Kerala
Legislature for making :r~dic&l chc:nges in the
Principal .<.ct in orde:r to Cc.:rry out its
politiccJ_ ideologies, It was published as
the Kera.la Land Pefo rms ( -"!menc.ment)
Bill on 16- 8- 1968, The statement of Objects
and Reasons ran as follows:-
 13 -
11 There have been demands :::rem the

Public fwc the am~:mdment of the Kerala

Land Feto:.:rns ;:cG, 1963 on the ground

thc.t the provisions thereof are not

(

.....,.."'
•
•
really beneficia1_ to the ::cudikida-

PP ukars and actual cul t~.vators of

• lana, rixperience :;ained d.iring the

implementation of the ,.ct has 2lso

revealed that it 5_s diffi~ul t to
im'.Jl emsnt =:. nurnbe y oi u ro vis ions of
the Act, It is ttw'.('efJre consj_dered

neces3rry to suitably amend tl::e !;ct

maj_nly fo:r the following .:iu:rposes:-

( 1) to grar1t more ben0fits to tendlts and

' KL1_diki'1cpp ul'.:ars ;

• •• '
(2) to include cert..iin classes of

c:.iltivato;.·s, who do not fall within

the defi'1ition of : tenant 1 within
the cat2goJ•Y o1 deemed tenants;

(3) to proviie fo,, ·che c0mp1!lsory

vesting of th.:i ,.,igJ:ots of landlords

in tho "overnn:ent on .'.o d1e.te to be

notified by 'cho Jovernmer:t cJ1:, for

the assic;'llllent of those rights to

the cultivating ,_,ena;:1ts;

·--i
 14

(4) to proviue for the constitution

of a new fund of net less than
Rs. 1 crore c&lleo ' tbe

, Kudikicapp'.lkars be:r.efit fULa

for provi-:i:iJ:1g bettE r facilities to
Kudikidapp ukars ar1c. to specify

• the minim Li;~ of the amour t of the

agriculturist FehE(bilitatim: Yuno
as ps. 2 crores.

The Bill after it was pas2ed by the Kerala

Legislature received Presj_denticJ. assent

on 16-12- 1969 and was published as the

Kerala Lan'-' Reforms ( Ame:t.:i,;ent) !.ct, 1969
( ActXXXll of 1969) he re inafte r referred to

i. as the ;i.mending ~~ct. Tho am er: ding •• ct,

by notification dated :_-1- 1970 is3ued
under Section 1 (2) thereof has been

brought into fo:rce on 1-1- 1970. S i11il ta-

neously a notification u,'"),ier Sectic.1. 1 (;:,)
of the Principal .. ct was 1:;..1.so i2suci
appointing 1-1- 1970 as ~he date on which
all the provisions of the Principal •• ct ~vhich

had not al rec.u.y come j_nto force shell come

into force.

14. The amGnding •. ct !Das '!la"" nu;nrorous

farreaching anu extensive arner.d::.ents to the

,
.......
~-------~-
 ,, n:
I

- 15

Principal •. ct. It contains as many as 105

sections some of which multiply J.nto

several sub sections. In Section 2 in

Chapter I, twenty defir1itions have been

amended and ten new c1.efi.Ditions ad.Qed. In

Chapter II containing 78 sections, sixty two

• sections have unrlergone amendments ar: l forty

two new sections inserted. In Chapter III

containing 18 sections, eleven sections

have been amended. Like1.rise in Chapter IV

1
Miscellaneous provisions t as, many as 21

out of the 33 sections have unv;.ergone

changes and 8 new sections inserted.

Schedules II and III have also been
amended. ;. cursory referenc(, to the amending

•
~-
..ct would show th&t the Principal

has undergone substantial tran:sfor.n_ tion.

To show the true nature of the a:nending

.~ct

-y
.
' act and its effect and impe.ct on the rights
of citizens, the petitioner CJ12ves leave

to submit the following broad features

thereof without making it cxhausti ve;
Chapter I.

IL Section 2 containin~ Definitions,

the definition of 1 7'e:<i•~nt t has been
substituted by 2 new and very m·ich

extended definition. The •J.efinition of

tenant pe:rmeates the entire ,.ct.

l
 16

Chapter II.

(a) Se'lren new categories of persons have

been ueclared 1 Deemed ~Ena~ts 1
•
" ~
(b) New Sections 13.~ to 13D entitle
;Jf
~
..J'"' \ certain dispossessed persor:s to be

• •'
( c)
restored to possession.
The concept of Fair Pent defined in

Section 27 has been sub$tituted by

an altogether different formala wtich has

ma-te it so nominal as to be illusory.

(d) Section 55 fixed ·t,!Je P:uchase Price

;:ia~rable by illl cultivating Tenaz1t for

purchasing the Lm.d lo r<i 1 s rights.

The amentling •• ct has in: effect

..
.1.,.....
imposed an arbitraJ:Y anJ severe
limitation on the

Purchase Price,
c1 t1ar;tum of

,··'
( e) Sections 65 to 71 conta:inir,g 1 special

provisions relnting to religious,

charitable and educatio.:ial institutior:s

of a public nature have beer:

substituted by entirely new
provisions. The effect of the

substitution is C:.ealt with in detail

the para 14 below.
.,""'--·~·~

17

(f) By the substitution of Section 72

the entire scheme of Chapter II has
been altered. 1'he origina.l section
.;•
i provided for the vesting in culti-
I t •,
I
Ii .,,. vating Tenants of tbe rights of the
..,,
...-.- '
•. lan..,lords aLa intermediaries subject

•
to oayment of Purchase price by the
·•
Cultivating Tenant to the lcci.:liord
and Intermedic:.ries, The new Section
72 proviaes fo:" the 2cquisition by
the State of the right, title c.nd interest
of the land 01-mers anJ intermediaries
witt respect to lands held by
Cultivating tenan. ts, Consequential
provisions rel~ting to payment of
compensation by the State to laniowners

• and intermediaries, anQ assigr.:nent

of the rights thus acqu:_red to
cultivating tenants ha '(e been
-y
inserted in the n2wly added Sections
72i. to 72S. The p rinci:ples for tl:.e

uetermination of cor.pensatio;1 are so

arbitrary ar,d artificial as to
make the compensation un::-eal and
illusory,
 18

(g) Sec. 73 which provided for sealing

down of arrears of rent i;as been

substituted by a new provision which is even

' more Jrastie;.

( h) Se~tion 75 to 80 dealt with

• 1 riglits and liabilities of Ludikiuapp·1kars 1

Furs udllt to the avowed object of

• gr211ting more benefits to Kudikidapp 1k2.rs

the definition of Kuuikiciapp ukar ir.

Section 2 (25) has been enla: ged anJ 80

new sections have now been added.

ChaotE III.

(a) Section 81Cl)(f) and (g)

granting exemptioi: to Cashew estates as

well as Pepper :Ja!'·1ens u1d .,recanut

Gardens from tbe C0iling prc·risions has been

J repealed. Perper 2.D.ll ••recdnu·~ gardens

have no1.' been subjected to the Ceiling in
utter dis regard of the 6l'aY•" consequences

adverted to by this Hontble Court :I.a its

J udgmen striking Jown the Ke:rala ••<- c·arian

relations ;.ct, Section 81(1)•'.h) G.Xempting

1 Uncl·1turable Waste lanus 1 from the c, i.:.in·:
has ~lso been deleted.
 19

(b) The u.efini·cion of Ceiling ... ~_·ea in

Section 82 which is the pivotal provision
of Chapter III has been substituted involving
a Jrastic reduction both 1Jith ref~:rence

I' _,,,
-~
to the number of Standard -~cres and the
actual acn1ge. The ma-.:imum extent allowed

;'
.;I
..-
- . .... has been reduced fe'orn 36 to 20 acr·es.
I'
i
I
I
I
• ,
-~.1

..
i
':J'hat is more, the provision contajned in

Section 83 ( 2) allowine; an adult member

in a family to own land in excess of the
ceiling area to the extent necessary to
make up the ceiling arer: of his
lineal descenJc:nts who would inheriht his
lands on his Cleath has be~n omitted from
the substituted sec, 83 , Companties, l'or
which no ceiling was prescribed, heve now
been subjected to . ceilir:g which

• is the sume as tho,_t allowed :f'or

of two to five members, Th0 1·onnula
for calculation of 3tMC1ard •• ere in
L femily

) Sch, II has itself been orufticmlly

changed,

14. (a) .. s already stated Ss, 65 to 71

--
~i
contained special provisions relating to
'I religious, charitable and educcitional
 1
I
\
'

20

institutions of a Public n8ture. The amending

;,ct substituted wl10lly new sections for the
above provisions. The newly i,r..serted
Section 6.5 reads thus:

•" ( 1) Notwithstanding anything

contained in sections 53 to 64 1
where in r8spect of a holding the

• I
landowner or intermediary is
a religious, charitable or ed::icational
institution of a public nc.ture, such
institution may, by
application to the La..'1.d Boa:rd,
choose whether the right, title
illhl interest of the in$titution 1n
respect of the holding should be
vested in the GoveTnmemt" in

•
consideration of the payment of an
a:muity in perpetuity b~r the
Government or uhether i-: should be
paiJ such annuity by the Government
instead of purchase pr:j_ce in
case the holding is pll::-chased
by the cultivating te11ant under
the provisions of this .. ct:

Provided that no such

application shall be enterta.inGd
 - 21

by the Land BoE'.rd on or after the

date notified by the Government
under Section 72.

·~
(2) -- - - -- ~ -------
(3) The annuity pnyablct:: to an

• .I institution in respect Of
shall be
cC

(a) where such ins'titu-cion

holding

is the l'.mei.owner, f.i: c:raount

equal to the rent to uhich it

would bic entitled i'f fair rent

were determined in respect
of the bolling aftEr deducting
2~ thereof by way of

• , ··-"
©'ollection chc:rges.

(b) - - - -

J Explanation I: Fo:r' the purposes

of this suc-sectiar:, r fair
rent 1 means the f:::,i.r rent thct

provisions of this •. ct as
a.'nended by the KenEla Land
PefoTllls ( :.mendment ) ••ct
1969.

l
 22

Explanation II •

•~lthough the :iear.ing fof Section 6.5 (1)

....,,.
JI above is obscure it no u.oubt puTJJorts
'
to give an Institution en option to
.,.
'O(

j_
choose the vesting of its r:ights in

• J the Government in return fo:r a peTJJJtual

annuity for an amount equE.l to the
Fair Rent as Jeterniined 1L'1.d31° the
.;.mended •• ct less 2i% ••• ccoi :iing to the
0

Proviso to Section 65 ( 1), the c:.bove

option will not be available after the
date notified by the Goverpment under
Section 72. Curiously
enough, the very :late nal'lely l-1- 1970

•
_JI. on which the ••n1er,ding "·ct containing
the above Section 65 (1) c@lle into
force w<.S L.ls o notified as the late
under Section 72 by the Government. By
such Jevice it has been rendered
impossible for any Institution to
exercise the option which :Ls intended to
be given by Sectior, 6 b ( 1) and thus
the provision is renuered --1holihy
nugatory anu illusory. Sections 66
to 71 which are purely am.~illarY
"'
to Section 65 ( 1) have als :i
 .- 23

been renaered ineffective and ~.noperati ve.

i Moreover, since 1-1- 1970 has been

'
I notified as the date under See~ion 72,
I.
all lands belong:ir.g to <'.E i:.1stitution
which were held by cultivating ten21ts on
that date would become vesteci. in tl:e

• Government on thc.t J::ite

only right is compensation u_.'uer
72.~.
a.nu

This position is m2do clear by

·~i:e Institutior:'
s~c.
~

Section 72N( 2) which was itself inserted by

the 2mending ~ct anu C3llle into force only
on 1-1- 1970 it .l'.'e,:ds: -

(2) Notwithstanding an:rthi'.ng

contained in sections 55 to 69,

a religious charitable or
educational institution of public
nature which has not expressed
its choice fo:r E~u1uity

instead of purchase p r•ice before

the uate notified unc.c:r sub-
section (1) of Sectiort 72 shall
not be entitled to express such
choice, and such i11si;:i.tution sh±ll
be entitled only to t:1e
compensation under Se~tion 72... 11 •

l a
pa •

'I

24

The provision for securing a pe:rpetual

annuity has bee;n r<;n.,· Jred conpletely
nwgatory •
.,
.
~~
•
'
(b) Section 72•• provloes thc.t the compen-
sation payable to th'J l~.c . .io;-r;1..Jr

have b0en acquired by the Gove:rnmel't under

whose rights

• J Section 72 shall be the

(a) six teen tilnes th~

.:i ::;regate of -

r Fair rent 1

dete rmineu unde l' th8 Principal •• ct

as amended by the •.Mending •• ct;

(b) value of structures etc. belonging

to the landowner; and
i.
r ( c)
! one half of th" vc.lue of timber

• The P ri 'lisc- to Sectio:--. 72,., however,

vdlue of structur"s 211•1 timo"'r trees

under (b) & (c) above to 16
times the Fair Pent.

Since the col'lpensation is expressed as

a multiple of r Fair Rent' the provision
relating to Fair Rent, nai-:iely, Section 27
is :important.
r , ~,...-- --------

25

(c) Fair Rent under Sect.ion 27 shall be

In the case of nilams Law adapted for

paddy cultivation and also 12nd

converted L~to coconu~, areacanut,

or pepper ga:rden by i!;he tenants

labour), 507; of the contract rent,

•
or 75% of the fair :r$nt dete:rmined
)

under any law in force immediately

before 21-1- 1961 or ~he rent

calculuted according ·;o 3cheJ.ule III

to the i.ct, whichevet is less.

In the case of o·';her lcmcls 75%

of the contract rent, or tb, 1"2.ir

rent determined u;.1de:t any law in

force immediately .Jejfore 21-1- 1961

or the rent ccl cule.tE1d according to

Schedule III, whichev--er is less.

In the case of the petitt'.Loner' s lands

since no Fair Bent has been fixed under any

othe'.r' law in force, the Fair Rent under

• Section 27 would be 50% of the Contract
Rent (75 % of contr, ct rent :ln the case of
lands other than nilam 1 ) or the Rent

calculated according to SchEldule III,

whichever is less. The ro.tes prescribed in
Schedule III will show thEct t;:19 rer:.t

calculated thereon will b:i p1irely r.ominal

 26

nominal in most cases. :Sven assum:i,ng that

the rent according to Schedule IIl will be
more than 75% of the Contract Fent, the
_,

iI
.j 't'f
•' .., Fair rent would only be 50'fo of the Contract
Fent in the cc..se of Nil&"l 1 and 75%
of contract rent in the case of other L~-nds,

;I
• .J being the lesser figure •

(J) Therefore the c0Dp'=';1sation which

would be p&yable to the petitioner for the
e.cquisition of all the lands lew~ed out
would work out to 8 times the con-~ract rent
in the case of nilarns plus a maximun
of 8 times the contract :r0nt for value of
structures and trees and in the case of lan
other than nilems, 12 times the contract
rent plus a maximum of 12 times the contract
rent fo~ structures end timber trees. But
even the above compensation will not be
I.
-·\,;' actually paid because under Section 72A(3)
a percentage cut will be ir.Jposed ranging
from 5 to 50% on the Slab System
prescribed in the Table.
•
(e) The compensation is to be deter~ined
by the Land Tribunal following th"' p J'OCedure
prescribed in Section 72F. Under Section
72H, 50% of the com:'lensation so ..ictern:ined is
 27

payable in 8 equal annutl instalments: tne

first instalment is payable within a period
of one year of the deite or. which the order
of the Lond Tribunal under Section 72 F(5)
has become final. Section 102 confE•rs a
.. right of appeal on the Govcl'l1Jllent to 3.ppeal
I
to the .:~ppellate authority .'g3.inst the order

I
I
of the LanJ. Boara passed u:1der Sec. 72F withiJ1
such ti.me as flay be prescribed: U:e appellat<!
: autho:rity has uisc:retion to .. ,imit en appeal

I presented after the expiry of the

time Under Sec. 103 a revision lies to the
prescribe~

r
High Court agaL'1St the order of the apptll·t~

authority, It is only on conclusion of :.11

such proceedings that the Lant.!. '.llribun<..lr s
order under Section 72F(5) ciete:tnining th-:
amount of conpt0nsation will secure finclity •

• Since Section '72H allows one year's tL,e

for payment of the first :L.'ls·cal.:r.ent of
compensation from the date on which the
--\/
LanJ. Tribunal• s oru.er bec::nes final the
payrmmt of th0 first instc'.b1ent is likely to
be delayed inuJfinitely, even for sever:l
years ....s regards the rer ~:iI'-:L.>g 50'p of the •

compensation payable, tbe l.:,LJ. ownio r

has to apply to the LE:-'1J. Board under Sectior:
721. The Land Board after following the
r

28

procedure prescribed the1·e':1 will pass an

order anu the pe.yment the:reof will be 'either
in cash or :in negotiable bonds rede~~able

after 16 years 81d carrYir:g interest at the

rate of 41% per annum with effect from the
date of such deter~ination, or partly :in

• cash 2nd partly i.ri such bonds' subject to

rules made by the '}overn.'Tent; and where
it is proposed to be p&icl :in co:.sh it sh.ill
be payable in eight annual equ<.l

instalments, ttE. first ilnstulnent being

;:iayable on the GXniry OJf ona year from
the date of the Land T:u:l.bun.:.l' s ord<..r
passed unuer Sec·~ion 72I.

15. ..s a result of the d; ove lcgisls.tion

the Petitioner• s )!utt woulu b2 V.eprived of
any income foi· severc.l ye_·rs which :·!Ould
necessarily result in ·ch" stoppage of the
-~ ........
~
I

daily Pujas, rituc:ls, cerc:vonies end the

periodiccll UtsaV<ll;1c.s and the Mutt wouli be
faced with a situc·tion in wl:ich it woulJ have
no other alternative ·:rxcept con:plete closure
of all the activities of the X~tt including
the nigh School, Thu;s all the religious,
charitable and 2ducational activities of the
Mutt must necessaril;r enJ., The pc:titicn<Jr

I
eii
 29
-
submits that the K8rala Land Pefoms •• ct
as amended by •• ct XXXV of 1969 is ultra vires
the Kerala Legislature ana is violative of
the fundamental rights under •• rticles
•'

•• 14 , 19(l)(f), 25 , 26 and 31 (1) & (2)

of the Constitution an~ hence unconstitutional
' .
)_
and voi0. for the re~,sons s~:; out below.

• )
16. The principal .. ct i$ inclu<le in
the Minth Sch2dule to the Constitution.
But the Keral& Legislutui:e brought :In the
amending .. ct since avowedly It was u.ifficult
to implement a nu.r:iber of ::i; ::ivisions of the
Principal •. ct ••• s alreaJ.y stated, 2 nu. cber
of important provisions Of che Prir.cipd... ct
were not brought into fo}·ce :it all but
were substituted by new p:·ovisions which

• have been brought into fo"!'ce. ·1lhat has made

the -.ct workabl;; is p :rcsur::tably the ,.mending
.~ct with its nwnerious &n·J substwitial
--y changes to th8 Principal ..-.~t. The .• ct as
'
thus am.ended is so :rac.ically and
substc.ntially J.ifforcmt froa tl:e ori6inal
.~ct that it has cec:sed to arjoy the :_J:rotection
of the IX Schedule to •• rt. 313 of t i_1

Constitution.

17. To secure :Lnmunity '-.'.Jin chtll.:.nge

 30

under .~rts. 14, 19 Dnd 3:_ Presidential

assent was obtained to 11he :.ct under -.rt.

31.. (1) (a). The President has to accord

assent ordinarily on th-1 advice of the

,.

_,.)ll -· j_ '
Union Council of Min.istt:>rs. The
responsioilitr fo:- exercd.sing the ;:iower
0

of 2ssent ir1roses a hec,v1y rilsponsibility;

• J for it is on the c;ssent Cf tha Presiuent

thc.t the citiz011 is deprived of his valuable

rights unuer -rts. 14, 19 and 31, &hl the

j urisaiction of this Hontble Court bc:rred

for the enforcement of s>_tch f:mcta;n:Jnt::l

rights. It is, therefore! i:.~cu;nbent in the
exercise of this power th2.t the Bill so
reserved should be scrutLJized in its
entirety to asce:rt2.in whether the legisl:ition
is coi1fLn.c:d only ·co agrarian refonns

• to bring it within th8 scope of J,rt. 31.i~(l)

(a). Even a cursory gl 2JlcG at the Bill
or •• ct woulu shoi;:
.... -",..-~

, '
(a) that it relates to both agri~ul tural

and non agricLJ_ltmn:l,lc-Jlc<.s,

commercial d1U in(\ust:rial site3, to
Kuuiyiruppu an.:. I\uccikide.ppu (bllildings
and building site:;;) situchH:; 1:1
in citt:s, mtmicipc>Jities arcli
panchayats;

,_.....~.
 31

(b) that pepp0r and areca plantations

exenpted from the ceiling provisions

of the Principal ... ct have now been
,,
•
excluded fron such exemption by the

J.meniing •• ct, in u)tter dis regard

-
.!--
.l.. of th0 ~ecision o;: this Eon 1 ble
s.c.

•
Court in (1962) s11pp. 1 R.
)
829 holuihg th<..t such action woul.i
be -tetlt-'im.sntal to n.:tionc.l -:conomy

for the re2sons c,iv::m tht!:rein, and

(c) that distribution o.f such

pluntations amonrs tne landless in

parcels of one acr$ or less coula

never fu'.l'ther agrarian reform. It is

leamnt that the concurrence of the

.... Union Governnent to the Bill was

• obtained ty frauci c.rii misrepresentation

by the 3tate Govern-"ient that ;iepper

anu areca were only house hold

garden crops, neecti:·.. g no exe;iption

from the c<Jilinz •..ssent s.J
obtained is voici. i l l&.w. bviaently the
Union Governm0ll"G ,i,:i not c;1ply its

ninu to the provisions of the; Bill

or exercise its po·.1er hoLestly

or bonaficle for the ;iurpos..;s for

which it was vrcstcJd in
 32

That apart the &ssent we.s gro:nted ih

DecerJber 1969 on politicsl recisons. For
all these reasons it is sub1aitted that
the PresiuenticJ. assent granted to the
.~ct is c nullity Ll1U. cannot secure
Jf J_ the •• ct protection fro:'! ch;.llenge
. ~·

• ,I of •• rts. 14, 19 °"1d 31.

(d) No ra2rket value was payabl~ under

the p:coviso to .~rt. 31.~ for
acquisition of 12,nus reduc~d covered
by the ceiling ·mder the Principal
.:.ct which has now been rectuced by the
.Jilenu.ing -.ct.

(e) Quite a large nUl'lber of tbE• provisio,1s

of the •• ct create J.ee!'led ten31ts who

• woulu in consequence be entitled to

lan~ ownEJrs rights which ll.ave no
rational con.n0ction with :r.t:;!'arian
... ruforn a.id whict appear t:p bo.ve been
introuu()ed in~uce cL.ss cv::iflict artc.1.
prolong t'ie p:::yment of Pu;rchc:.se Price.

( a bamboo cutter) or even a person

clc:ining unuer him ( Section 4 ), certain
mortg ctge0s or tcm:;nts of mortgagees
( Sec. 4,.), certain r'lortgagees with

I
I
M.,
~·

33

possession ( Section b ) or holuing

lan.i on Verumpe.ttcJn in Cocl1i:J. ( Sec.6),

or persor.s who were in 'JOssession of

land after 1-12- 1930 as ~ortgagees

,..
-~ mortgagees in. areas to wi;i:ich the ME.labar

i:
_,o!'" ,L
Tenancy .. ct C!p".>lies ( Sue. 63),
I[
f,
cert.oin persons occupying land honc.stly

r
• I
believii!g it to be tenlliltS for two

years within et period of 12 years

immedi;;.tely preceding 11-4- 1967, such
honc:st belief always to be presUPed

I
until th'" contrary is p ro'Ved

( Section 7), certcin p<0r:>ons occupying

lands for not less than 10 years
believing to b ...· the property of the

Governnent ( Section 7••), c.irtain

•
persons occupying lanc1 unc\ier leases
granted by incompetent persons ( Section
7B), certcin persons who have paid

•
.. amoun.ts for occupe<tion of l211ds ( Section
7C) ce;tc.in P'-'rsons occup"ing
private forests or uns urveyed
lands : Section 7B) i certain persons who
 - 34

are cultivating land on Ve.ram arrangement

( Section 8), certain per$ :ins who

surrenv.ered lc>asehold rights but continued

••
possession nutwitl'.1stano.ii~.~ 211y decree
' for eviction ( Section 9), certain
tenants who have s urrendeted by unre.

• ,,' gistered deeds ( Sec. 9,.), certain

persons aescribed as Punan:t cultivator

( fugitive cultivator) OT a licensee
or a person huL1ing lands :Ln Ifosdrug
OT Kasargod Taluk un0.er a Bogya, Otti,
Nattotti, ···rwar, ILlidarwClr or

Krithasanthillidarwar ( all i'i0rtg£gees

in possession) but not bell:.g
us ufruct uro ry mortgagee as. 1.J.efined

•
in Transfer of Property •• ct ( Section 10),
Sambalapattandari Sambclac:hita.ar,
Coolipatamuar in certain [:;reas or
a Gaimakararuo.r ( a labour!'r employed
for cultivation) or a holder of
Gobachittu or Faslichittu ( a contract
for plL1cking fruits for a $eason) terms
which have not been define~ in the
Section ( sec. 11). The ab©ve will
show that with some device or other
persons who are not tennnts in the
true sense of the term are sought to be
 - 35

presented with le.nus to d1ich they

have no clain ;:;s less<.Jes l!l:f such 1-:nd.
In WlY one reaJing these 'i1::ivisions
woulu. easily have been str·1ck with the

...__
.
fact ttet the: lc3gisl.:,tion .is ;-iot fo:r the

purpose of acrari"'"' ref0rm but or.ly

I
J
for the purpos"' o::' .iep ri v:j.ng people who
are lawfully entitled to t:1eir lands on
a nomL:ccl prictJ for the p!;t:rpose of
distrioution of lana to a:t.1 and sundry
who lMve no recognized int·1rest.

18. Whether the .• ct ¢om es within

the S'."'.Ope of .. rt. 3L~ o:r l!'.ot, it should

be mentioned that the .~ct :0ntains
numerd!us p :rovisions over r.iding Judgments
anJ aecrees passed by th8 ':ourts of the
lanu in the exercise of cL1ei::: unaoubted
Juaicia1 power. oy 0rJploying the set
fO:tfilula r not)Vithstanuing .nything to
the contrary contained in ~ny law or
in 2ny custom or usage, o.,. in any
Juugment.Jecree or order of Court in
atleast 34 different plcces the Legislature
has ventured to over ride juaicia1
decisions freely. It is beyond the
 36

the competence, of t,ie lcgislc.ture to

set asiue uecisi0ns of c0urts. It may be

open tc tte 10gisL.1ture within certain
limits tc <::'':d!l tiie previsions of an

•• ct rctrospecti vel v and to decl10.re what

• the L:w shtll b'" ci<J0med to have

• been, but it is not open to the legislature

to say that ~! JuJgnent of Court prop<Jrly
constituted ana rendereu :in <JXercise of
its powers in r:mtters brought b •. fo:re
it shall be ueemcJd to be ineffactive.
Neither the principe<l act no1· tl1e
amending .. ct has been given any
retro.>p ecti ve effect anu yet Jee is ions
of courts are c;ought to bci fre•;ly
over ridden. It is not open to the

• Legislc:ture to ::ssume t;he power;3 of the

Supreric. Court or th<.J ;.Iigh Court and
reverse Ju-..g.~1ents of ciuly constituted
courts u..Dler tt0 Constitution.
In so far as the ..... ct seeks to encroach
upon the J u:..icial power the ..... ct is
ultra vi res anu voiJ. Unuer :.rticle
31 ueprivation 01 acquisition of
property c.::n only be unJer a v:clil lc.w.
If the law is :in valiJ fur the reasons
stated above, such law coc1111ot clai"1
 37

protection unJ,,r .• rt. 3L(l) (a)

or ever1 .,.rt. 3IB.

19. The EJaneer Mutt and the religious

-~

ana the spiritucl fraternity represented

.j
by it is entitled to cl<c.im the fundamental
rights conferred by .• rt. 26 of the
Cons ti tut on. Trw rights

• conferroa by .. r·t. 26 are subject only

to public or'"er, morality
aihi
21:. .. health
hence cannot lw ab ri-~ged. or tai1':en away
by any law of agrarian refo:M ...ltl':.ough
sections 6Ei to 69 of the .. ct, as
stated :in po.ra 14 ebove, seemingly confer
a righc on a public religious, cha:ritable
or educational institution to opt f-)r

~ an annuity in p0:r;ic:tuity for a swn

•..,.., equel to tLc Contract Pent of the lands

leased out by it ( subject only
to a cled.uction of 21% for collection
charges) the suiJ ;iroV"isions are in
reality purely illusory anJ.
deeeptive and are designed to mask the
confiscatory an~ ~estructive nature
of the i.ct. By acquiring all the lanu
belonging to t:ie institutio11 which he.ve
been leased out, the instit11tion is
if'

38 -
U.eprivvd of its incoce withoat which it
would be impossible for it to function,
The conpensation that is proviJed for
_,
is norainal an:.i woulJ. not be actually
.J paLl to the inst tution for e long nwnbtJr
of years for thb reasons stated in para
~· ~·

' '-
14 ( e) above, Daily Puj o.s h;i:;re to

• ··-' be perfo:rmed to thv ueities

tho Mutt anu in the sever<.l cemrles
attached to it as enjoino~
:L~stall.ed

by the
in

and Sastras • .LltJsiues peri(Yii,::

Utsavams anc1 festi vs.ls h, Vc :Uso to be

0

p erfo T!: Jd as enj oinc:J by t ',,; :-rinu.u

Peligion, .~11 these e;bligatory reli,~ious

p ractic.cs <::nJ. d.utics must of necessity

•_.._, be <iiscontinued if the institution is

left with no financial resources
whatever. The right to maintain
institutions fo:r religious 11nu. charitable

•• purposes and the right to manc:ge its own

affairs in matter of religion and to
own movable anJ immovabl0 ;ic.operty tmuer
~:.rt. 25 would all becor.i.e mere tec:.s:ing
illusions, Since th.: temple,s as well as
the educational institution run by the

'--~
 39

Mutt woulu. have to be clos,~d Jown. The

Petitioner as Matauhipathi is 2ntitled
to profess, p rectice 2.11'" prop agate

.J religion. If h"' '.10r0 to be :red:,iced to

a penniless state it woul..:. becone
impossible for him tc uischa:rge his

• religious anu. spiritual d'1ties

Matau.hipathi o:r mafutain
attcched to tt~'t
r,;;2

0ffice a.Ed status.

2.S

uignity

The petitioner submits that the scte::ie of

Sections 65 to 72 N renC:. wi·:h
St3ction 27 of the i'llpugned .. ct is
tot2lly subversive of the r:Lghi:;s to
religious frecciom guarante~d by
i.rt. 25 and 26 of the Const:~tution anl

the said provisions are therefore uncon-

• stitutionc:l ana voL1. Unuer .. rt. 26 (c)

the Mutt has the right to own

ana imnovabl0 property• <.il1d it is not open
1 movable

to the State to compulsuril:Y convert the

immovable property of the :rutt into
cash or Bonu.s by the process of acquisition
an~ compensation.

20. By Section 81 (l)(i\) ' Plantations•

( Jefined to mean land c.ultivated with
tea, coffee, cocoa, rubbt<:r, can.:.aoom
or cinnamon) are ,::xempted froill the Ceiling
;,

0
'•. ' - 40

Privisions, but no such exemptior: is

given to pepper and. areca plantations. In
adjudging the constitution<:tl validity of the

.J Keraln i.grarian Relations .•ct, this Hon' ble

Court has already hold in Karimbil
Kunhikoman vs. State of Ke re.la ( 1962)

• sup. 1 s.c.R. 829 that tea, coffee and

rubber plantations on the one hanl and pepper
and arecanut plantations on the other are
similarly situate anJ hence the ~<emption

of the former from the Ceiling P?"Jvisions

while subjecting the latter thereto was
violatice of i.rt. 14 :inl voiJ. Tb•3 petitioner
craves leave to refer to an·l rely on the
saiJ JuJgment in support of his suboission

•
that the subjection of puppe:c anJ arecanut g
garu.ens to the Ceiling provisions while
'
other plantations crO)S like tea, coffee
I
\
and rubber are ex0mpt woul,l be irJconsistent
!
with agrarian refonn anJ is Jiscriminatory
anJ. violative of -rt. 14.
21. Section 82 (1)(2.), (b) ar:.: (c)
fixing the ceiling c:ren with refe•rence to
' frunily' anJ. r aJult unmarried pErson' is
in pari ~ateria with Section 58 of the
Kerala i.grarian P.eL:itions 1'.ct which was
~eclared unconstituional by this Hon 1 ble

'
I
5lJ .---r ... --·---------- -

41 - (~
Court in the Ju..,gment rl:ce~-~y referred
to. For the sLtrrKJ re:.:son S<0ction 82 of the
Kerala Lnn .... Pofor".ls •• ct is lis crir.1h1e.to:ry
anJ voiC:..

_I 22 • Section 72;. pros crib es th~

'{
,- quantum of compensation pcy~ble to ohe lcnJ

•
owner whoso :rights have been required by
.I
en~ become vested in the Government un~"'r

Section 72. The conpcns.-tion is f:Ucod as

e. multiple of the F.dr Rent. The Fc.ir Rent
un""er Section 27 in turn :refers to the
Contract Rent. In cases to uhich szic:tion
4J. hes become c.ppliccble, th _t is, wJ::.ore
the ldll..t is in poss<Jssion of usufructurory
mortgagees, the Cantre.ct R0nt ccco»cling to
Section 25i. (l)(c) is crbitre.rily filqed at

• Rs. 4 per acre. Even in other cases

the Fair Rent is to be fixed with reference
to purely crbitrary an"" unreal principles.
Compens8tion being the equivalent in
.J

terns of money of th0 property compulsorily

acquir0c1. The principles for Joterminir.cg
compensation nre intenJ0c: to nw:.ir"" to the
owner the value of the prop<Jr·ty acquire.::.
The provision of S0ction 72.~(2) roe.: with
Section 27 an~ Section 25.-. :~re not principles
 - 42

of com;1ensatior., but of conf:l;scc.tion

an-.t hence c.re in contrc.vention of •. rt. 31(2)
ns well 2s _rt. 19( 1) ( f). Whot is more
Sections 72,". (3) -:irovi.~0s for a
progressively increc:sing cut :'.n thu
compensution nctunlly :i cyc.blQ c.ccor ... in~ to
a slab system ••• s:l.mil2r prov:'.sion in

• Section 64 of the Kernlt: •.,c;r ..~ri2.Il

Relations ... ct was struck .0:.:.1 by this iion•ble
Court for violJ.tion of .• rt. 14. Hence
Section 72.'. of the KCiN'.l" Lcu-1~ Reforms
•• ct C!lso violctes ••rt. 14.

23u Sec. 88(2) provi ...:es t:ho:.t the

cor.ip0nsation payo:ble to c'li ovrDer wi:ose

excess l::::n-.: vests in the St ..ct<' on surren.er

•
shall be 5f!J, of the r.ierket value of the
lc:n.~ c:n. improver.ie>ats, if any. This is not
--ol
c: p :r:i.;1ciple of r,onpens.~tion but a ... evice for
lepriving the avmer of 4fi% of the value
of his property o:n" i!O in c:ny event not a
reluvc:.nt principle, 30ction BE thus
infringes .;.rt. 31 (~) an~ •• rt. 19(l)(f).
&ection 92 provi.es th&t the conpens&tion
is payable ! eitnc:r in cces:1 Cl!' negotic.ble
bon.;.s rtL1.eem:rnle -.fte r the ex~: iry of 16
years an .• carrYine: intP.rest <'t. 41% ;. OJr
 /
- ('5/
I
- 43

annum.•••• or partly in cash an. partly

in such bonJs as P.Jf:Y be prescribed. Sec,31(2)
enjoins that the law which pro~iJes for
acquisition shall specify the mminer in

I which compensation is to be given. In

so fnr as tho 1.ct lea vus it to tbo
Government to prescribe actual ornnor of

I
• payoent, there is a contraventioh of
Further, giving th0 0xproprL;.te<l owner
compens~tion in the form of bonJs :reueemable
~rt. 31 (2)

I
'
after 16 years en~ carrying
interest ouch lower the.n the cun:€nt
c'. rc:te of

comarcial rate of 9% also infringes

the requirement of .1.rt, 31 (2).

24. With rogpect to ccnpensation pi::.yable

for the acquisition na~c un~cr Se~tion 72

• '
of the ... ct, unJer Section 72H fifty
percent of the conpensntion is payable in
8 equal annual instalments an.~ un·.Or
Section 721 the renaining 50% nay b.E paid
.,.. either in cash or in ntJgotiablo bonls
L
reu.eenable after 16 years or partly .in
'·
cash an,.;. partly in bonJs subject to such
rules as may b0 mu.Je by tho Goverrn;1er_t.
F'or the reasons set out in para 14 above
1 t oay take years for p ayuent of even the
.·".
 - 44 . -

of even the first instalment. The entire

scheme for paymdlt of compensation is
inconsistent with tho very object :ml purpose
of payment of cGID!'c:r:c c.tion r.:1-:. thus
contravenes i.rt. 31 (2) a.s w•}ll as .~rt. 19(1)

.. .,
(f) •

• 25. Section 4;, real with Sect~ons

13 cnJ 72 proviJing fer the ::cqui.';ition

of the rights of a mortgagor in or~er tho.t
they i~ay be conferred on tho mortgagee
cannot be saiJ to l'urther my a:;rcrinn reform
nor in the public interest with reference
to Art. 3:L~ o:- ,.:-t. 3:!. (2), r!wr can be
j ustii'ie"- ,,s rGc.scnabl.o restr:i.ctions in the

interest :Jf the ,;eneral :iublic within the

mewing of .. rt. 19(5).

26. In so fer cs the .. ct soe;ks tc

acquire pepper an., arcca.nut ::;<irJens with

the avoweC.. object of b reakinc: them up ir:tc
uneconomic frugmonts Jces not subsurvo any
public purpose nor furthor ac'1Y agrc.rian
refo:rm. This Honlbl:? Court hdl held alreuJ.y
that the brecil: np of s vch plmtaticns wcul:
inevitubly rGsult in c. fall in pre;lucticn
uJversely affectin" the nr.tion:c.l economy.
Nor Cilll the sL'11 ;:irovision be regar-Jed as
 ..
~ ~-irV"""'_"" __, -·....·----·~
'

- 45 -
reasonable restrictions in the interest of
the general public with reference to
•• rticle 19( 1)( f).
J

-·f
{ f
27. The def:il1ition of tenant takes in
...

-· - -, "-{ several categories of persons who <:'.re JeemeJ.

to be tenants by arbitrary encl unrec.sonable

• ...;
fiction of the law. They Qre persons who
othtirwis e u.o not hctve any legally recognized
right or 1nter0st in praesenti anJ yot
rights are conferred on then to the
p rej uJice of the owner c)f tho lan ls. 3uch
provisions amount to tc.kint, ;~1 s property
rights an.! gi vine then to B without
any public purpose. They are not reasonable
restrictions in the interest of the public
anl hence violative of .. rt. 19(l)(f) •

Sections 4A 1 7, ?i.., 7B e.11J 9 belong to

this category.

28. Sectiuns 13.~ to l3C prc,viJ.e fox

rest0ring to possession c,1rtain persons
.iispo:osessed by procass of lc1w. Section
13 J oxtonJs tho right oven t:i a person
who has a~nittodly connitted acts of
waste and acainst whon a Jecree for J.nnages
has been passed. These provisions are not
reas0nable restrictions in the interest of the
general public.
r""".

- 46 -
29. The Fair I;ent pres1cribed by Section
27 is arbitrary nn- unreasonable, Jesi3ned
to reJ.uce the c0Ltpensation p;:yable for the
.•
;_ ~

I
.t ccquisition r:iaJe un ... er Sect:Lon 72.
case of Nilan the Fair Rent is
In the

50% of the
/
'f.
.--.;. ,.
_, j..
Contract I>ent ( hcwevvr fair anl reasonable
the Contrr.ct rent mieht be) Jr 75% of the

• ·-~

Fair n<Jnt ·Jetorminvd un.'.er o.ny lr.w in

force before 21-1- 1961, or th•1 rent calculated
accordinc to Scheuule III, whichever is less.
Tho principles prescribed for Jeter.:iining
Fair I>ent are wholly artificial and
irrolevo.nt, 2.11.: violative of .~rt. 19( 1) ( f) •

30. Section 45.il. proviJes f<:>r the re-

appropriation of e.rrears of rent alrea.ly by a

•
tenant to his lan.llorJ, evon if th6 ori·;inal
cppropriation he;J bven OJ·c.lorod by a court
---- _..., Jecree or orJer. Sectic,n 45.~ must be reaJ

- r- with section 73 which provides for the

writing cff cf all arrears of rent. The
'"ischarge of ar!'€ars of rent is based only the
extent of lanJ helJ by tbe tenant which basis
is unreasunable anJ arbitrary. The cl>ove
provisions far fro1:i being reasonab],El
restrictions are confiscatory in effect unJ.
violQte •'.rt. 19( 1)( f).
I - 47 -
31. S0ction 50.;. which entitles o. tenant
to use his lanJ in my l:lc.l')l1er he thinks fit
woulu enQble the Jiversion of agricultural
lanu fcJ1· non csriculturc-.1 pur:;oses which far
f roo furthe rini:; rny as rQri ~1 :re fo T!J will be
prejuJiciQl tc the interests of the public.
Section 52 confers on the t-c·nwt the right to

1. ,I
cut rnJ reoove t:i::1ber trees st.:mJ:ing on
liis holJinr; subject to p::iy::ci¢nt of 1/2
of their oarket vo.lue to the lanl cw.mer
\ whereas the lanJ owner is prohibite~ from

~
j\
cutting anJ remov:in.:; such thinbs. Section
74 1nposes a total an, ubsolute
prohibitic . on the creation of tene:ncy in
futui'e an-t v.oes not pruvide CL•i exemption
even in fc.votlr of persons sufflerinz froo
uisability s.uch us !Jinors, persons uncler

• physical er ment3l c.is ability •Jr the members

of the :.med Fo:rces. These p r::v:'.s ions are
excessive unJ unreasonable in relation
to Art. 19(l)(f).

32. Section 55 f:i.Xing the Purchase rrice

payable by the cul ti vat in;: tenent fc·r purchasing
\
I
the right, title ancl interest cf the Lu:u ovmer
\
is arbitrary encl tmreasonable. To the extent
that it is basej on Farir F.ent which is
itself arbitrury m1•• unreasonable 1 the
 - 48 -
the Purchase Price is equally so. It is
subject to further limitations nnJ reJuctions
and the moJe of pe.ynent is 2lso unfavourable

--r I
nnJ unreasonable. Hence Sectior.. 55 to
cannot be justifieJ as reascnai:le restri.
Gg,

ctions in the interest of the general

•
public anJ are voil unJ.er '"rt. 19(l)(f) •

33. Sections 75 to BOG confer nuuerous

rights cmJ privileges on KuJikf.~appukars
defineJ in Section 2 (25) mi,l inpose severe
restrictions on the: rights of the lo.n..:. owner
in relation to then. These prov::sions cnnnot
be justified as furthering 2,-;rn:ricn rGfcrtJ
no:r as reascnable restrictions :iL the
interest of the general public.

• '
34. Section 84 :Lri.val1Jates cll voluntary
transfers effected after the elate of publication
of the Kerala LM.J Refurns Bill 1963, by a
fanily ur any member the re of o:r by an a.iul t
unmarried person owine or holJ.ini:; lunJ. in
excess of the ceiling area. :.11 trrnsfers
oxceptinr; the fe;ur catepories spocifieG.
therein are deemed to be transfers cclculated
to uefeat the pro vis ions of the •• ct nnu are
J.eclareJ. invaliJ.. No exemption is muJe even
in cases where the t:rnnsfer was macle bonafi.;.e
r
I

- 49

to meet Ll press:i.n<; f:i.nwcial m!lergency.

I The pr'.:lvision is harsh anJ. CJGcessive cn·l

! cannot bG justified as essentj_o.1 tc

agraric.n refor;:i. It violates i.rt. 19( 1)( f ).
,,
The Pr:i.ncipo.l i~ct by .Section 82 haJ
prescribed a ceiling for r fc~ily r O!llJ
i...tult unna:rrived pers0nr. By the".:1.1Jen<11ng

•
1

i.ct the ceil:i.ni:: has been reduced inv:..lv:i.ng

I the acquisition of the Ji1'feriitr.!Ce _etween

the olC:. cnci the reviseJ ceiling. The •~ct

proviJes for compensation c.t 5~ of Mc.rket

value. Unu.er the SeconJ Provis!l to .~rt. 31.t..
( 1) fL!ll n:::rket vo.lue must be paiJ as
cor.r:iensation for such lands if unier
personal cultivation. Thus ther€! is a
t
violation of i.rt. 31..i~ ( 1).

•
'
tI
36. UnJer the e.bovu circumstances the
t
ptltitioner is cc-nstraineci to m0v~ this non• ble
Court unJer .Ii.rt. 32 0f the Const:l tution for
v.eclaring the Keralc. LanJ Iief ..Jrnw ,;.ct
1963 as aoenJed by «ct, XXX.V ::if 1969 to be
ultravires unconstitutionc-J. un..l voiu. ::l!lu.

for reliefs consequential therein. The

petitioner has not moved C..DY '.:lther C..Jurt
for the reliefs claimed herein.

'
' I.
r~
!

- 50

37. The putiti0ner therefore hUL!bly prays

that this Hon• ble Court ffi<:~y be pleaseJ to-
a) Decl<::r0 that the Iterala Land
Reforr:is ,~ct, 1963 ( .uct I of
19&±) cs arncn .. !ed l.Jy the Kerala
~ Lan-" Tiefc rms ( .;.mendment) .~ct,
1 1969 ( .I.ct XXXV of 1969) is un ...

~·-~, cons ti t;~tional, ultra vi res

and voiJ;

b) Issue c writ of ManJ2.0us or nny

• othor aprropricte writ, orJer or
liroction ..lirectin~ the state of
Ker~la tc forbear fron enforcing

tl:e provisions 0f the sr,il .~ct;

unl

c) Pass such f1.ather Dr other orlers

, as may bo ,,eened Jlll.3t ancl proper

in the circu:nstance3 of the case.

•
.:..ND THJ PETITION1$S SH..i.LL ;.s DI
DUTY BOUI:D i5v'ER Ptl.'.l.
-~,

DE;lWN BY:
S HR I N".i~ • SUB Il.llMAN LJV
.lDVGC,lTE
SETTLED .BY:
SHIII M.K, NJJ1BYJ.R
SENICR .iillVOC.;,'.I'E SUPFBME COUBT •

I & CO,,
EME C:OUI.l.__ __

FILED ON: M.mcH 1970.