High Court stays fresh allotment of Bhoodan land till December 2, seeks reply on Section 25

The High Court has imposed an interim stay on any fresh allotment of Bhoodan land. The stay will remain in force till December 2, 2026. The order came after the court heard a petition by the Vidarbha Bhoodan Yajna Mandal challenging the constitutional validity of Section 25 of the Madhya Pradesh Bhoodan Yajna Act, 1953.

Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Rajnish Vyas issued notice to all respondents, including the state government, and asked them to file their replies. Advocates RM Bhangde and Tejas Bais appeared for the petitioners, while Assistant Government Pleader NS Autkar appeared for the government.

Counsel for the petitioners argued in court that under the Bhoodan movement, land is given to landless persons. However, under Section 25 of the Act, if a beneficiary violates the rules, the land does not revert to the Bhoodan Mandal. It vests directly in the state government.

The advocates contended that this provision violates Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to equality. They said it would defeat the very purpose of Acharya Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan movement.

The court was also told that, according to an administrative letter dated May 4, 2026, preparations were under way to distribute these lands to other people.

In view of this, the court directed the state government not to make any fresh allotment of Bhoodan land till December 2, 2026. The stay also applies to any allotment under the May 4, 2026 letter.

As the question of the constitutional validity of the law has been raised, the court has also issued notice to the Advocate General of the State of Maharashtra.