(1.) This appeal arises from a suit for specific performance that was filed by the appellant against four defendants who are today represented by the respondents. By an agreement to sell dated 12.06.1980 entered into between the appellant company and P. Nagarathina Mudaliar, P. Gopirathnam, P. Lavakumar, and P. Basantkumar, the agreement recites:
(2.) Given the fact that the necessary permissions were not obtained by the defendants, in particular, the permission from the competent authority under the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978 ["Tamil Nadu Urban Land Ceiling Act"], the appellant filed a suit for specific performance on 24.02.1981, in which it was specifically pleaded as follows:
(3.) As many as eight issues were framed in the suit. Issue no. 5 reads as follows: