Panchayats, provides that all lands vested or deemed to have been vested in a Panchayat under the 1961 Act, shall be utilized or, disposed of by the Panchayat for the benefit of the inhabitants of the village concerned in the manner prescribed . Rule 5 of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964, which permits Panchayat to exchange any land in shamilat deh with the land of an equivalent value, provides that a Panchayat, if it is of the opinion that it is necessary so to do for the benefit of the inhabitants of the village may with the prior approval of the Government , transfer any land in shamilat deh by exchange with the land of an equivalent value. In view of these statutory provisions, a Gram Panchayat can transfer any land in shamilat deh by exchange with the land of an equivalent value only with prior approval of the Government which is a condition precedent for a valid exchange of such land. Mere passing of the resolution by the Gram Panchayat is not sufficient and does not clothe the transferee with any right title or interest in such land in the shamilat deh and mere possession of such land by the transferee does not entitle him to the protection of law for continuing in possession thereof and reference in this regard can be had to a decision of this Court rendered in the case of Bant Kaur Vs. The Director,
