Alfred Henry Lionel Leach, C.J.

1. In 1925 the Zamindar of Parlakimedi applied to the Government under Chapter XI of the Madras Estates Land Act for a settlement of rents in respect of all the ryoti villages in his estate, and Government acceded to his request. A special Revenue Officer was thereupon appointed to conduct the inquiry and after a lengthy investigation he announced his findings. The ryots contended that the rates fixed in the year 1868 were permanent and were not liable to be altered. They further contended that in the event of this question being decided against them Section 30 of the Act limited any enhancement of rents to 12 per cent. The special Revenue Officer decided both these questions against the ryots and directed that the rents should be enhanced cent, per cent. An appeal followed to a single member of the Board of Revenue under Section 171 of the Act. By an order dated 30th March, 1936, the member of the Board who heard the appeal upheld the contention of the ryots that the prevailing rates of money rent could not under the law be enhanced by over 12 per cent, in settlement proceedings. The Zamindar then applied under Section 172 to the Board for revis