D. HARIPARANTHAMAN, J.

1. The writ petitioner purchased the land comprised in Survey Nos.141/1, 141/2A, 142/1 and 142/2 measuring an extent of 1.88 acres, 0.92 acres, 2.77 acres, 0.98 acres and 2.92 acres respectively, in all an extent of 9.97 acres in Ayanambakkam Village, Poonamallee Taluk, during 1980 by way of two sale deeds dated 04.09.1980 from one Thiru. A.L. Sreeramulu and three others.

2. The vendors manufactured bricks at the said lands in the name and style of M/s. Sree Jayalakshmi Brick Works. According to the petitioner, he continued the manufacturing of bricks in the changed name viz., M/s. Sree Jayalakshmi Brick Industries.

3.The learned counsel for the petitioner states that he sought exemption from the first respondent under the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978 (hereinafter referred to as the Act), by making an application under Section 21 of the Act. According to him, he did not receive any orders on his application.

4. While so, according to the petitioner, he received a memo under Section 39 of the Act to show cause why prosecution could not be made for contravening the Act. Only thereafter, he came to know that the third respondent