SRINIVASA AYYANGAR BY POWER OF ATTORNEY AGENT S. JAMBAGATHAMMAL Vs. REVENUE COURT BY ITS PRESIDING OFFICER AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THESE writ petitions raise for consideration the scope and jurisdiction of the Tribunals created under the Tanjore Tenants and Pannaiyal Protection Act (XIV of 1952) and the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act (XXV of 1955) in relation to tenants on lands which are claimed to be comprised in " Estates " falling within the Madras Estates Land Act (I of 1908). These writ petitions originally came on before one of us, but in view of the importance of the questions raised and the difficult points of statutory construction involved the petitions were directed to be posted before a Bench and they were accordingly heard by us.

(2.) BEFORE setting out or examining the precise points which are raised by these petitions we consider it useful to narrate the facts which have given rise to them.

(3.) THE tenants filed a counter objecting to the eviction. The plea raised by them was that the applicant for eviction, was not a landlord and that they were not tenants as defined in Act (XXV of 1955). This was explained in paragraph 5 of the counter thus: