Judicial Dictionary
Ranjit Singh and Ors. v. State of Punjab and Ors. reported in, (1965) 1 SCR 82. In the said decision, the Constitution Bench has stated thus:
… The scheme of rural development today envisages not only equitable distribution of land so that there is no undue imbalance in society resulting in a landless class on the one hand and a concentration of land in the hands of a few on the other, but envisages also the raising of economic standards and bettering rural health and social conditions.
Provisions for the assignment of lands to village Panchayat for the use of the general community, or for hospitals, schools, manure pits, tanning grounds etc. ensure for the benefit of rural population must be considered to be an essential part of the redistribution of holdings and open lands to which no objection is apparently taken. If agrarian reforms are to succeed, mere distribution of land to the landless is not enough.
There must be a proper planning of rural economy and conditions and a body like the village Panchayat is best designed to promote rural welfare than individual owners of small portions of lands….
In Andhra Pradesh rural development Act, 1996, in the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Act, it is stated:
“It is observed that the development in the rural areas in the State has not been accelerated due to paucity of funds. The Government are of the view that there is an imperative need to provide financial assistance for the development of rural areas in the State by creating infrastructure facilities, so that the economic activities in the rural areas will increase and thereby contribute for the growth of the economy. With a view to generating funds for the purpose of development of the rural areas, it is considered desirable to levy a cess @ 5% on the ad valorem basis on the quantity of the purchase of goods specified in the Schedule appended to the Bill”.