Judgement

Consolidated Appeals (No. 29 of 1924) from orders of the High Court (February 24, 1920) reversing decrees of the Court of the District Munsif of Manamadura.

The appellants brought suits in the District Munsifs Court claiming from the respective respondents, who held puttahs from him, damages in respect of their having cut and removed certain palmyra trees.

The facts, and the terms of s. 12 of the Madras Land Estates Act, 1908, which were material to the suits, appear fully from the judgment of the Judicial Committee.

The Munsif decreed the suits, but upon cross-petitions for revision, the High Court (Sadasina Ayyar and Spencer JJ.), after a remand for further findings, dismissed them. The views of the learned judges appear from the judgment here reported.

1925. Dec. 17. De Gruyther K.C. and Kenworthy Brown for the appellant.

Narasimham for the respondents.

1926. Jan. 21. The judgment of their Lordships was delivered by

LORD DUNEDIN. The plaintiff in the present set of cases is the zamindar of Ramnad, an estate situated in the Presidency of Madras. The defendants are ryots who are tenants of the plaintiff in virtue of certain puttahs. The plaintiff complained that the defe