Property: A Constitutional Right

Saji Koduvath, Advocate, Kottayam.

Contents in a Nutshell

  • Right to property was a Fundamental Right till 1978.
  • Its status is reduced to a Constitutional Right.
  • It was done by the 44th Constitutional Amendment (1978).
  • Article 300A reads – ‘No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law’.
  • Article 300A is held to be an effective constitutional safeguard against arbitrary deprivation of property by State action.

The Constitution as Enacted in 1950

Under the Constitution as originally enacted in 1950, the right to property was guaranteed by two provisions.

  • Article 19(1)(f) conferred upon every citizen the fundamental right to acquire, hold and dispose of property.
  • Article 31 protected persons against deprivation of property except by authority of law and, in specified circumstances, upon payment of compensation.

These provisions enabled citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly under Article 32 for enforcement of their property rights.

Right To Property – Subject of Constitutional and Political Debate

However, the right to property soon became the subject of intense constitutional and political debate. Land reform legislation enacted by the States, intended to abolish intermediaries and redistribute agricultural land, frequently came into conflict with these constitutional guarantees. A series of constitutional amendments and judicial decisions followed, reflecting the continuing tension between individual property rights and the State’s socio-economic objectives.

The matter was finally settled by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978. This Amendment repealed Articles 19(1)(f) and 31, thereby removing the right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights. Simultaneously, a new provision—Article 300A—was inserted into Part XII of the Constitution.

Article 300A provides:

  • “No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law.”

Consequence of New Provision—Article 300A

The consequence is significant. The right to property is no longer enforceable as a Fundamental Right under Article 32. Instead, the challenge lies before the High Courts under Article 226 or before other competent civil or revenue courts.

The expression “authority of law” in Article 300A is not an empty formality. The law authorising deprivation must itself satisfy constitutional requirements. It must be validly enacted by a competent legislature, must not be arbitrary or illusory, and must conform to other constitutional limitations, particularly Articles 14 and 21.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasised – though Article 300A does not restore the status of property as a Fundamental Right, it nevertheless embodies an important constitutional guarantee.

Art. 300A Ensures – State Acts Only under Authority of Law

Accordingly, while the constitutional status of the right to property has been downgraded since 1978, its protection has not been abolished. Article 300A continues to ensure that the State acts only under the authority of law and within the limits imposed by the Constitution whenever it seeks to deprive a person of property.

The following are the most important decisions on Article 300A:

1. Jilubhai Nanbhai Khachar v. State of Gujarat, (1995) Supp (1) SCC 596One of the earliest leading cases. The Court held that Article 300A protects property from deprivation except by authority of law. Executive action alone cannot deprive a person of property.
2. Bishambhar Dayal Chandra Mohan v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (1982) 1 SCC 39Even after deletion of Article 31, the State cannot interfere with private property without legal authority. Every deprivation must be supported by law.
3. Delhi Airtech Services Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Uttar Pradesh, (2011) 9 SCC 354Property is still a constitutional and human right. The State must strictly comply with statutory requirements before depriving a person of property.
4. K.T. Plantation Pvt. Ltd. v. State of Karnataka, (2011) 9 SCC 1The leading Constitution Bench decision on Article 300A. The Court held that Article 300A is not a mere formality. The law authorising deprivation must be just, non-arbitrary and serve a public purpose. Though compensation is not expressly guaranteed, wholly illusory compensation may render the law unconstitutional.
5. State of Haryana v. Mukesh Kumar, (2011) 10 SCC 404The Court described the right to property as a human right as well as a constitutional right and strongly criticised arbitrary attempts by the State to appropriate private property through adverse possession.
6. Tukaram Kana Joshi v. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, (2013) 1 SCC 353The State cannot occupy private land for decades without acquisition or compensation. Such conduct violates Article 300A.
7. Vidya Devi v. State of Himachal Pradesh, (2020) 2 SCC 569One of the strongest modern decisions. The Court held that forcible possession of private land without acquisition proceedings or compensation is unconstitutional and violates Article 300A. Property remains both a constitutional and a human right.
8. Hari Krishna Mandir Trust v. State of Maharashtra, (2020) 9 SCC 356The Government cannot simply record private land as public property in revenue records without following due process. Article 300A requires authority of law.
9. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. v. Darius Shapur Chenai, (2005) 7 SCC 627Though concerning land acquisition, the Court stressed that deprivation of property must strictly comply with statutory procedure and constitutional safeguards.
10.B.K. Ravichandra v. Union of India, (2021) 2 SCC 401The Court reaffirmed that Article 300A protects individuals against arbitrary deprivation of property and that due process prescribed by law must be observed.

The Following Decisions Say – the Govt. has Similar Rights over Public Properrty

1. State of Haryana v. Mukesh Kumar, (2011) 10 SCC 404 —This is a strong judgment on the protection of Government property. Government property cannot be grabbed. The Court emphasised that public property belongs to the people and Government officials are under a constitutional duty to preserve it. The Court said that public property is held by the Government as a trustee for the people, and it must protect such property against encroachers. However, the Court also made it equally important –  “The Government, including all instrumentalities of the State, cannot be permitted to perfect title over private property by invoking the doctrine of adverse possession.” This case is often cited both: to protect private property against the State; and to emphasise the Government’s duty to safeguard public property.
2. Jagpal Singh v. State of Punjab, (2011) 11 SCC 396 —Protection of village common and Government land This is a landmark judgment. The Supreme Court directed all State Governments to remove encroachments from Gram Sabha, Panchayat, and other public lands. The Court observed – public lands belong to the community; courts should not encourage regularisation of illegal occupations; Government authorities are under a legal duty to recover public lands from encroachers. The Court remarked that such lands are meant for the benefit of the entire village community and Public land cannot be allowed to be appropriated by private persons.
3. M.I. Builders Pvt. Ltd. v. Radhey Shyam Sahu, (1999) 6 SCC 464  The Court held that public property cannot be diverted or alienated contrary to law. Municipal authorities hold public property in trust for the public and cannot deal with it as if it were private property. This decision applies the public trust doctrine to Government-owned land.
4. Intellectuals Forum, Tirupathi v. State of Andhra Pradesh, (2006) 3 SCC 549  Public trust doctrine, imposes a fiduciary obligation oon the Government to preserve it.  The Court reiterated that: lakes, parks, Government lands, public resources are held by the State as trustee for the public. Government has an affirmative constitutional duty to preserve such properties and cannot permit their illegal occupation.
5. Hinch Lal Tiwari v. Kamala Devi, (2001) 6 SCC 496  The Court ordered restoration of village pond land illegally allotted to private persons. It held that community lands must be protected and restored because they serve public purposes.

Public Trust Doctrine imposes Limits and Obligations

In Fomento Resorts & Hotels Ltd. v. Minguel Martins, (2009) 3 SCC 571, our Apex Court held as under:

  • “53. The public trust doctrine enjoins upon the Government to protect the resources for the enjoyment of the general public rather than to permit their use for private ownership or commercial purposes. This doctrine puts an implicit embargo on the right of the State to transfer public properties to private party if such transfer affects public interest, mandates affirmative State action for effective management of natural resources and empowers the citizens to question ineffective management thereof.
  • 54. The heart of the public trust doctrine is that it imposes limits and obligations upon government agencies and their administrators on behalf of all the people and especially future generations….”

Rama S/o Gunda Malkapure v. The State of Maharashtra

The Bombay High Court (Siddheshwar S. Thombre, J.), Aurangabad Bench, in Rama S/o Gunda Malkapure v. The State of Maharashtra, 2026:BHC-AUG:20436, quashed and set aside the Order of the Minister upholding the property rights of the landowners, under Article 300A of the Constitution. It held to the following effect:

  • Erroneous revenue entries that led to a reduction in area will not defeat the rights of the landowners, under Article 300-A of the Constitution of India.
  • The revenue authorities, being custodians of the record, are required to explain how such reduction occurred. The petitioner cannot be blamed for incorrect entries maintained by the authorities.
  • A legal-constitutional right cannot be taken away on technical grounds of delaywhen the fault lies with the authorities.
  • There will be no specific period of limitation for seeking corrections to such wrong entries. (The failure of authorities to issue statutory notices often prevents landowners from discovering errors in real-time.)
Read Similar Articles
# Anurag Krishna Sinha v. State of Bihar [Neutral Citation: 2026 INSC 219]: The SC Struck Down Legislation Relating to a Trust as Violative of Article 14 and 300A
# Rama S/o Gunda Malkapure v. The State of Maharashtra held -Property Rights Cannot be Taken Away on Technical Grounds of Delay
# Kesavananda Bharati Case: Effect and Outcome – Never-Ending Controversy
# State-Interference in Affairs of Societies & Clubs

No Limitation for Seeking Corrections To Revenue Entries

The Bombay High Court (Rama v. The State of Maharashtra) pointed out that no specific period of limitation is stated either in the Maharashtra Prevention of Fragmentation and in the Consolidation of Holdings Act, 1947 or in the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. Therefore not bars for an an owner for seeking corrections to such entries. It was also found that the failure of authorities to issue statutory notices often prevents landowners from discovering errors in real-time.

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