Ramachandra Iyer, C.J.

1. This is a petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution by the landholder of the erstwhile Sivaganga Zamindari for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the Government of the State of Madras to collect arrears of rent payable by the ryots in the Zamindari for faslis 1357 and 1358 without reducing the same by reference to the Notifications issued under the Madras Rent Reduction Act, (XXX of 1947) (which we shall hereafter refer to as the Rent Reduction Act).

2. The petition originally came up for hearing before Rajagopala Ayyangar, J. The learned Judge felt that as the determination of the question would affect the liability of the concerned ryots, they should be impleaded as parties to the petition. Steps were thereafter taken to implead respondents 2 to 1 o as representatives of the tenants but none of them have entered appearance. The writ petition then came up before Jagadisan, J. who referred the matter to be heard by a Bench as in his opinion the value of the subject-matter in dispute and the question of law raised in the case were of such substantial nature that it was fit for being heard by a Division Bench. The petition has accordi