ORDER:- The defendant in O.S. No. 687 of 1979, District Munsif's Court, Erode, is the petitioner in this civil revision petition. On 12-9-1974, according to the case of the respondent, the petitioner borrowed a sum of Rs. 2,000/- and executed a promissory note in favour of the respondent promising to repay the said sum together with interest thereon at 12 per cent per annum and that a sum of Rs. 2,555/- remained to be recovered from the petitioner under the promissory note. The suit was filed by the respondent to recover this amount on the footing that the

petitioner is not entitled to the benefits of any of the debt laws. The petitioner filed a written statement contending that only a sum of Rs. 1,000/- had been received by him under the promissory note and therefore, the promissory note was supported by consideration only to that extent and that the entire interest up to 10-9-1977 had also been paid. The petitioner further contended that he is not carrying on any business, that he is also not assessed to sales tax and that he is entitled to the benefits of Tamil Nadu Act 17 of 1976. In an additional written statement, the petitioner raised a plea that he is a "debtor" wit