BISWAMBHAR SINGH AND ORS. vs STATE OF ORISSA

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Orissa Estates Abolition Act, 1952, ruling that the appellants, Zamindars of Hemgir and Sarpgarh, had lost their sovereign status and were classified as intermediaries under Section 2(h) of the Act. The Court found that the appellants' claims to sovereignty were invalid as they had submitted to the authority of the Raja of Gangpur prior to the merger with the State of Orissa. Consequently, the State was entitled to acquire their land interests under the Act, affirming the High Court's dismissal of their petitions.