The writ petition is filed for declaration that the land comprised in Survey Nos.649/18, 649/19, 649/25 bearing Plot Nos.13, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 31 and 32 measuring 17,790 sq.ft. situated at V.O.C. Nagar of Velachery Village, Chennai belonging to the petitioners does not attract the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978 or Section 3(1)(a) of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999.

2. The case of the petitioners is that under various documents they have acquired title in respect of the abovesaid properties and the purchases were made in the year 1985 and independent pattas were given and they have been in absolute possession. The petitioners have approached the 4th respondent-Tahsildar on 23. 2006 for inclusion of their lands in Town Survey Register by issuing new patta. In spite of the fact that the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978 which came into effect in 1978 has lost its legal validity in the year 1999 on account of passing of the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Repeal Act, 1999 by virtue of which the lands which were under the proceedings of the earlier Act became free-hol