This appeal arises out of a suit, O.S.No. 55 of 1945, filed in the Court of the Subordinate Judge of Salem by 22 persons who were occupying sepa rate lands in the village of Kannurpatti Agraharam for a declaration that the lands in their possession are ryoti lands in an estate within the meaning of the definitions of those terms in the Madras Estates Land Act and therefore the plaintiffs have occupancy rights therein. The learned Subordinate Judge dismissed the suit. Plaintiffs 1, 3, 6, 8 to 15 and 17 to 19 are the appellants. During the pendency of the suit itself, some of the plaintiffs compromised with the defendant landholders, and they withdrew from the suit. During the pendency of the appeal some of the’ appellants have also entered into compromises with the respondent landholders, and it is common ground before us that the only appellants who press this appeal are appellants 1, 3, 4 and 5.

The only question which arises in this appeal is whether the lands in suits are situated within an estate within the definition of that term in section 3(2)(d) of the Madras Estates Land Act. That definition, in so far as it is material to this appeal, runs thus:

“Any inam v