SHEAPUJAN BHAGAT vs THAKUR HEMBORM & ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the appointment of a village headman under Section 5 of the Santal Parganas Tenancy (Supplementary Provisions) Act, 1949, determining that hereditary rights do not apply when the previous headman has voluntarily resigned. The Court held that since the appellant was not from the same village, he could not claim the right to be appointed as headman, and directed the Commissioner to conduct a regular election in accordance with the prescribed procedure. The appeal was disposed of without costs.