Jagpal Singh & Ors vs State Of Punjab & Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the application of the Gram Panchayat under Section 7 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961, affirming that the appellants were unauthorized occupants of a village pond and had no legal claim to the land. The Court reiterated that common lands are inalienable and must be preserved for community use, emphasizing that the rights of the community over such lands cannot be abrogated by state vesting. The judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was upheld, reinforcing the protection of communal rights against encroachment.