SUBBA RAO, C.J. : This is an appeal against the judgment of our learned brother Satyanarayana Raju, J., dismissing the petition filed by the appellant under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India.

2. The facts that gave rise to the appeal may be briefly stated. The village of Narasapuram in Tiruvur taluk was notified as a zamindari estate under the provisions of the Madras Estates (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act) with effect from 7th September 1950. The petitioner, who is the land-holder of the said village, filed an application under Ss. 12 and 15 (1) of the said Act for the issue of a ryotwari patta in respect of certain dry lands bearing S. Nos. 219/9 and 347 of the extent of 58 cents and 1 acre 76 cents respectively. The said two items were purchased by him from ryots in March 1947. The Settlement Officer and, on appeal, the Estates Abolition Tribunal, held that, as the said items were purchased subsequent to 1st July 1945, the petitioner was not entitled to have a patta under S. 12 (b) (ii) of the Act. Satyanarayana Raju, J., who heard the Writ Petition, agreed with them in their conclusion. The first question raised befo