ORDER :- The tenant is the petitioner. The respondents-landlords filed a petition in R.C.O.P. No.7 of 1979 for an order of eviction against the petitioner under Sections 10(2)(i) and 10(3)(a)(i) of the Tamil Nadu Buildings (Lease and Rent Control) Act, 18 of 1960, as amended by Act 23 of 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). According to the case of the respondents, the property in the occupation of the petitioner belonged to the joint family of respondents 1 to 3, their father and brother one deceased Gopalan. In 1963, the father renounced the world and became an ascetic and also released his share in the property in favour of his sons, the respondents 1 to 3 herein and Gopalan. Gopalan, the brother of respondents 1 to 3 and husband of the fourth respondent and father of respondents 5 and 6, died subsequently and the respondents became the owners of the property in question. The petitioner, according to the case of the respondents, became a tenant in respect of this property through one Venkatanathan. On an earlier occasion, an application for eviction in R.C.O.P. No.14 of 1971 was filed by the first respondent herein against Venkatanathan, since deceased, and the pe