Sadasiva Aiyar, J.

1. The plaintiff appellant is the present Rajah of Ramnad, the owner of an ancient Zamin-dary. He brought this suit to recover possession with mesne profits for 3 years before suit of the village of Nedunthulasi within the area of hisZamindari which village had been alienated in three ways in the years 1894 1895, and 1902 respectively in favour of the 1st defendant (Kuppuswami Aiyar alias Naganatha Aiyar). Unless all these three transactions are set aside or are nullities it seems prima facie difficult to see how the plaintiffs suit in ejectment and for possession could succeed as each of the three transactions gives to the 1st defendant the right to hold possession of the village on the date of this suit, namely, 30-6-1913.

2. The first transaction was the lease granted by the plaintiffs father, the then Rajah, in September 1894 under Ex. C. Under this deed, the 1st defendant was entitled to enjoy the village as lessee for 40 years till the 1st July 1934, that is, till more than 21 years from the date when this suit was brought and more than thirteen years from the date on which this judgment is pronounced by me.

3. The second transaction was again an alie