Reviewed case brief
Government of Andhra Pradesh v Thummala Krishna Rao
AIR 1982 SC 1081
The Supreme Court held that lands assigned to the landless poor under government schemes are subject to statutory prohibition on alienation. Any transfer in contravention of the conditions of assignment is void and the land reverts to the government for reassignment.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Year
- 1982
- Subjects
- Land Laws
- Reviewed
- 2026-06-18
Rule established
Assigned lands granted to landless poor under government schemes cannot be alienated, and any transfer in violation of conditions of assignment is void
Facts
- The Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) assigned lands to landless poor persons under various land assignment schemes
Issues
Held
- The **prohibition on alienation** of assigned lands is a valid condition attached to the grant
Ratio decidendi
Lands assigned to the landless poor under government schemes are burdened with a statutory prohibition on alienation that flows from the social welfare objective of the assignment. Any alienation in breach of the conditions of grant is void ab initio, and the State retains the power to resume such lands for reassignment to other eligible landless persons.
How to use it in an exam
- Core authority for the principle that assigned lands cannot be alienated
Editorial source
AIR 1982 SC 1081; verified via SCC Online
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.