LAJPAT RAI AND OTHERS vs STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court held that under Section 5(1) of the Punjab Security of Land Tenures Act, 1953, a landowner must notify their reservation within six months of the Act's commencement, failing which they cannot reserve land. The Court clarified that 'reservation' and 'selection' of permissible area are distinct and mutually exclusive concepts, with selection allowed only for those who did not reserve. The appeal was dismissed, affirming that the inclusion of land in the surplus area does not affect the ownership rights of the appellants.