RAJ KUMAR SONI vs STATE OF U.P.

The Supreme Court held that the Sub-Divisional Officer lacked the authority to allot government land, as the power to grant such land resides with the District Magistrate under applicable regulations. The Court affirmed the District Magistrate's decision to rescind the allotment made to Mahanth Govind Das, emphasizing that the sale of the land to the appellants was unauthorized and did not confer any legal rights. Consequently, the appellants' claim to the land was rejected, reinforcing the principle that unauthorized grants cannot create valid titles.