Collector Can't Reopen Land Ownership After Decades Without Inquiry: Madhya Pradesh High Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled that a Collector cannot reopen settled land ownership after decades without due inquiry or statutory process. The Court held that reopening old land records violates principles of legal certainty and procedural fairness. It stressed that once property rights have crystallised and entries are final, authorities must not disturb them arbitrarily. The judgment underscores adherence to limitation principles, the need for a proper inquiry before revising land records, and protection of long-standing property titles from administrative overreach.