MUGAJI LAXMAN PADULE THROUGH HIS HEIRS vs TRIMBAK WASUDEO KULKARNI & ORS.

The Supreme Court held that under the Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act, 1948, particularly Sections 32A, 32P, and 63, a tenant cannot purchase land if their total holdings exceed the ceiling area. The Court found that the purchase made by A in 1960 was illegal as he was already in possession of land beyond the ceiling limit, and thus the sale was deemed inoperative. The appeal against the High Court's dismissal was therefore dismissed, affirming the lower courts' rulings.