"Mere Entry" in Records Doesn't Grant Property Ownership to Govt, Rules Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled that a mere entry in municipal records does not establish government ownership of property.

The case involved land in Delhi that was de-reserved from public use but later claimed by the Municipal Corporation.

The Court noted that previous civil court rulings in favor of the private owners had already attained finality and could not be bypassed.

Emphasizing that title must be proven through valid legal means rather than internal lists, the Bench ordered the Corporation to reconsider the owners' application for land use, upholding the sanctity of private property rights.

[Pawan Garg & Ors. v. South Delhi Municipal Corporation]