AJIT SINGH & ORS. ETC. ETC. vs AJIT SINGH . ETC. ETC.

The Supreme Court held that the appointment of the Consolidation Officer was invalid as he acted without authority before his official appointment, thus rendering the consolidation scheme ineffective. However, the appellant's claim was rejected due to laches, as the petition was filed over three years after the repartition. The Court clarified that 'acquisition by the State' under Article 31A(1) does not have a technical meaning and must be interpreted in the context of the provision, distinguishing it from mere modification or extinguishment of rights.