Facts of the case
- A family collectively holds 35 acres of agricultural land.
- The family includes: father, mother, one married son, one minor son, one unmarried major son, one married minor daughter, and one unmarried major daughter.
- The standard holding as per the law is fixed at 10 acres per unit.
- Authorities are tasked with determining whether this family holds any surplus land under the applicable land ceiling law.
Issues in the case
- How many landholding units can this family be divided into for the purpose of ceiling calculations?
- Are major unmarried sons and daughters considered separate units under the law?
- Should the land held be declared surplus, and if so, how much?
- Is the family eligible to retain all of the 35 acres they currently hold?
Principles associated with it
- Under most land reform statutes, including the Andhra Pradesh Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973, a “family unit” includes husband, wife, and their minor children.
- Major sons and unmarried major daughters may be treated as separate units if not financially dependent.
- Married minor daughters are usually considered part of the husband’s family and not counted in the original family’s land ceiling calculation.
- The ceiling is calculated based on the number of eligible units multiplied by the standard holding.
Judgement
- The family is entitled to four units:
- One unit for father, mother, and minor son
- One unit for the married son
- One unit for the unmarried major son
- One unit for the unmarried major daughter
- Married minor daughter is not counted in the parent’s family for land ceiling purposes.
- Total permissible land = 4 × 10 acres = 40 acres
- Since the family owns only 35 acres, which is below the 40-acre ceiling limit, no land is surplus.
- Therefore, the family is entitled to retain the entire 35 acres, and no action for surplus land need be taken.