Judgment

Sujata V.Manohar, J.

(1) LEAVE granted in CAs Nos. 3039-40 of 1995 Special Leave Petitions (Civil) Nos. 14935-14936 of 1994.

(2) SUBSTITUTION allowed in Civils Nos. 3774-3775 of 1992.

(3) ALL these appeals raise a common question of law relating to the interpretation of the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as "the Principal Act") read with Tamil Nadu Act No. 17 of 1970 which is the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Reduction of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1970. The latter Act is hereinafter referred to as "the Reduction Act". As the facts are different in each group of appeals, they are dealt with separately.

(4) THE deceased, V. Gopal Reddiar, the first appellant and his wife, the second appellant in these appeals, held agricultural lands in excess of the ceiling limit on 6/4/1960, which is the date of commencement of the Tamil Nadu Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1961. Under Section 5 of the Principal Act, a ceiling of 30 standard acres is fixed on land holding in the case of a family. An additional 10 standard acres is the ceiling on land holding of Stridhana land.

(5)