Vithaldas Jagannath Khatri (D) Through ... vs The State Of Maharashtra Revenue And ...

The Supreme Court addressed the interpretation of the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands (Ceiling on Holdings) Act, 1961, particularly Sections 2(4), 2(6A), and 10, regarding the definition of 'family unit' and the implications of land transfers made to circumvent the ceiling limits. The Court held that any transfer of land made after September 26, 1970, and before the commencement date, which aims to defeat the Act's provisions, will be considered in calculating the ceiling area, thus potentially rendering all land held by the family unit as surplus. The judgment clarifies the legal consequences of such transfers under the Act, emphasizing the protection of the Act's objectives against evasion.