KALU RAM MEGHWAL Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner herein has preferred the instant writ petition in the nature of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) praying for the following reliefs:-

(2.) Learned counsel Shri Moti Singh representing the petitioner vehemently and fervently contended that in the garb of setting up of the solar power plants on Khatedari lands of villages in Tehsil Bap, poor and uneducated Scheduled Caste land holders are being forced to convert their land. He urged that the land of scheduled caste person cannot be converted as the same is contrary to the provisions of the Rajasthan Tenancy Act and so also Rajasthan Land Revenue (Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-Agricultural Purposes in Rural Areas) Rules, 2007 (for short hereinafter referred to as "the Rules of 2007"). He submitted that there is no legal sanction behind conversion of such Khatedari lands. He submits that the Khatedars who have voluntarily let out their land for the purpose of setting up of the solar power plants, are being forced to get their land converted by pressurizing them that if the conversion is not done, the lease deeds would not be executed. On these grounds, learned counsel Shri Moti Singh urged that the registration authority be restrained from converting the Khatedari lands of Scheduled Caste persons for non-agricultural purposes.

(3.) We have considered the submissions advanced at bar and have gone through the material placed on record as well as relevant provisions of rules.