ESTATES DEVELOPMENT LTD. vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Chief Settlement Commissioner's order to cancel the allotment of land to the appellant company under Section 24(2) of the Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954, was invalid due to the absence of a finding that the allotment was obtained through fraud or false representation. The Court emphasized that such a finding is a mandatory condition precedent for taking action under the statute. Consequently, the Court quashed the order, affirming the company's entitlement to the land allotment.