State Of West Bengal & Ors vs Scene Screen (Pvt.) Ltd., & Anr

The Supreme Court held that under Section 6(1)(b) of the West Bengal Estates' Acquisition Act, 1953, the petitioner is entitled to retain the lands leased to a cinema house despite the State's claim to collect rent. The Court emphasized that the lessor's interest created prior to the Act's enforcement vested in the State, but the petitioner had validly elected to retain the lands by submitting a return in Form 'B'. The appeal by the State of West Bengal was dismissed, affirming the High Court's decision in favor of the petitioner.