MAHANT SANKARSHAN RAMANUJA DAS GOSWAMI ETC., ETC. vs THE STATE OF ORISSA AND ANOTHER.

The Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Orissa Estates Abolition (Amendment) Act, 1954, which expanded the definition of 'estate' to include minor inams, thus falling within the ambit of Article 31A of the Constitution. The Court ruled that the President's assent to the Amendment Act constituted a law for the compulsory acquisition of property for public purpose. The Court clarified that minor inams, despite not being whole villages, are categorized as inams and thus subject to the provisions of the Abolition Act, 1951, as amended.