The defendant, who raised a question of jurisdiction of the Court to entertain the suit O. S. No. 230 of 1989 on the file of the Munsiff's Court, Vaikom, is the petitioner in this revision petition. The two original plaintiffs and the two additional plaintiffs impleaded later on are the respondents.

2. The suit was one filed by respondents 1 and 2 for recovery of arrears of rent and possession of the plaint schedule room and lean-to portion occupied by the petitioner. After the filing of the suit Government of Kerala issued a Notification G. O. (MS) No. 43/90/ Housing dated 6-10-1990 which was published in the Kerala Government Gazette No. 42 dated 23-10-1990 making the provisions of the Kerala Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 1965 (for short "the Act") applicable to Chempu Panchayat within the jurisdiction of which the plaint schedule building and property are situated. Even before the issue of the above notification, plaint schedule building with land appurtenant thereto seems to have been purchased by the Ksheerolpadaka Society No. K.76(D) Chempu (for short "the Society") as per a sale deed dated 31-1-1990. On the basis of the said purchase on 9-4-1990, the Presid