RAGHUNATH LAXMAN WANI AND ORS. vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS.

The Supreme Court upheld the findings of the Deputy Collector and the Revenue Tribunal regarding the determination of surplus land under the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961, specifically Sections 3, 4, and 6. The Court ruled that the ceiling area is fixed based on the family size as of the appointed day and is not subject to change due to subsequent fluctuations in family membership. The Court affirmed that a family member holding land separately cannot be counted for additional ceiling area benefits, thus validating the Tribunal's decision to include the appellant as a family member for this purpose.