STATE OF WEST BENGAL vs ARUN KUMAR BASU

The Supreme Court ruled that under Section 4(1) of the West Bengal Estates Acquisition Act, 1953, the rights of intermediaries, including leasehold interests in fisheries, are extinguished upon vesting in the State. The Court emphasized that the notification's effect is to divest all pre-existing rights and interests, as established in State of West Bengal & Ors. v. Suburban Agriculture Dairy & Fisheries Pvt. Ltd. [(1993) Supp. 4 SCC 674]. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, affirming the Calcutta High Court's decision regarding the liquidators' claims.