1. Being aggrieved by the order dated 31.12,2002 passed In an Application filed under Section 9 of the Tamil Nadu City Tenants' Protection Act, 1921 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") in I.A. No.2064 of 2000 in O.S. No.5987 of 1997 on the file of the Second Additional City Civil Judge, Madras, the respondent/plaintiff therein has filed the above Appeal under Section 9-A of the Act.

2. The short facts of the case as pleaded by the respondent are as follows:

The predecessors in-interest or the respondent herein namely ESSO Eastern Inc. became a tenant under the appellant herein in respect of an extent of land measuring 1187.3 sq. mts. situated at St. George's Cathetral Road, Madras under a lease deed, dated 11.07.1972, for a period of 10 years commencing from 01.07.1972 for the purpose of running a petrol bunk. In pursuance thereof ESSO Eastern Inc. put up a super-structure over the said land for the purposes of running a petrol bunk. Subsequently by an Act of Parliament all rights, title and interest of ESSO Eastern Inc. in relation to its undertakings in India were transferred to and vested in the Central Government with effect from 13.3.1974. Thereafter under a notif