Wide meaning of "any other amenity" under Harijan welfare land acquisition law upheld for school building acquisition.

The Madras HC held that the expression "any other amenity" in Section 3(g) of the Tamil Nadu Land Acquisition for Harijan Welfare Schemes Act, 1978 is wide and unqualified, and cannot be cut down by ejusdem generis where the statute shows no discernible genus. Reading the provision as a whole, the Court treated education as an amenity benefiting Harijans and concluded that acquisition for an additional school building fell within the statutory purpose. The writ court was therefore wrong to strike down the notification, and the acquisition notification was upheld while the appeals were allowed.

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Issues: Whether the definition of "Harijan Welfare Scheme" in Section 3(g) of the Tamil Nadu Land Acquisition for Harijan Welfare Schemes Act, 1978 could be restricted by applying ejusdem generis so as to exclude acquisition for construction of an additional school building, and whether the impugned Section 4(1) notification was valid.

Analysis: The statutory scheme was enacted to give effect to the State policy under Part IV of the Constitution, particularly Article 46, and the definition in Section 3(g) expressly includes schemes for house sites, dwelling houses, burial or burning grounds, pathways, and any other amenity for the benefit of Harijans. The expression "any other amenity" was held to be wide and unqualified, and the context did not disclose a genus capable of limiting the general words by ejusdem generis. The Court applied the principle that where the language is clear, effect must be given to the plain legislative intent, and that the provision must be read as a whole to avoid rendering any word redundant. On that approach, education was treated as an amenity benefiting Harijans, and the proposed school building fell within the statutory purpose.

Conclusion: The writ court erred in applying ejusdem generis and in striking down the notification; the acquisition for the additional school building was within the scope of "Harijan Welfare Scheme" under Section 3(g).

Final Conclusion: The appeals succeeded, the writ petitions were dismissed, and the acquisition notification was upheld.

Ratio Decidendi: A residuary expression such as "any other amenity" must receive its plain and purposive meaning where the statute reveals a clear legislative intent, and ejusdem generis cannot be applied unless the preceding words constitute a discernible genus or class.

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