JAGANNATH AGARWALA vs STATE OF ORISSA

The Supreme Court held that the rejection of the appellant's claims against the Maharaja of Mayurbhanj was an act of State and could not be challenged in court. The Court ruled that the act of State did not conclude when claims were invited or reported by the Claims Officer, and that the municipal courts lacked jurisdiction unless the new Sovereign State expressly accepted the claims. The Court emphasized that the inquiry was for the benefit of the State, not for conferring rights on claimants, thus upholding the decision of the Board of Revenue.