SURJA vs HARDEVA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under Section 18 of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, a tenant can only purchase land not included in the reserved or selected area of the landowner. The Court found that the Financial Commissioner erred in dismissing the revision without determining whether the Assistant Collector had correctly assumed jurisdiction regarding the land's status. The matter was remanded to the Financial Commissioner to decide on the validity of the landowner's selection and its timing, emphasizing the jurisdictional nature of the issue under Section 24 of the Act.