KANDASAMY Vs. SRI RANGANATHASWAMY (IDOL)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These batch of Special Tribunal Appeals are directed against the order passed by the Inam Estate Abolition Tribunal at Trichy. The facts and law involved in all these appeals are similar and in fact arising out of a common order passed by the Tribunal. Hence, these batch of Special Tribunal Appeals filed under Sec. 30 of the Tamil Nadu Minor Inams (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963, (herein to be referred as ''the Act'') are taken up together for consideration and the following common judgment is passed.

(2.) The subject matter of the suit is in respect of the land covered under Inam Title Deed No.1027, granted as Devadayam for the support of the Pagoda of Sri Renganathasami at Srirangam. The land is situated in Vellithirumutham Village at Tiruchirappalli Taluk, which is now known as 'Srirangam'. The minor Inam granted to the Pagoda of Sri Renganathasami, Srirangam, in T.D.No.1027 brought under the purview of Act 30 of 1963 by the State and the same was notified under Sec. 1(4) of the Act.

(3.) The Assistant Settlement Officer in exercise of power conferred under the Act took suo motu action and caused notice to the parties concerned and took up enquiry for issuance of Patta, on the premise that on the date of enforcement of the Act i.e., 15/2/1965, the inam tenure in respect of these lands stood abolished and the lands got vest with the Government, free from all encumbrances as mentioned in Sec. 3(b) of the Act 30 of 1963. The land admeasuring a total extent of about 390 Acres was classified under three different heads in the Schedule to the notice. viz., Part - I land with building; Part - II vacant land; and Part -III land already vested with the Government and used for public utility as lane, ground etc.,