1. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, as well as the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

2. It has been stated that the petitioner is the owner of 95 cents of land, in survey No.172/1 and 3 of Zamin Pallavaram village. It had been bequeathed in favour of the petitioner by way of a Will, dated 13.12.1973, executed by his father, Raji Naicker, bearing document No.27 of 1973. Accordingly, the petitioner had got 78 cents of land. By another Will, dated 9.6.1976, bearing document No.14 of 1976, 17 cents of land had been bequeathed to the petitioner, by his mother, Rajammal. As such, the petitioner, was in possession of a total extent of 95 cents of land, along with his wife and children.

3. It had been further stated that the second respondent had issued a notice, dated 23.9.1996, under Section 7(2) of the Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978, (hereinafter referred to as the Act), stating that the petitioner was holding 3400 square meters of vacant land in excess of the ceiling limit. However, the said notice had not been served on the petitioner in the manner known to law. Thereafter, by the proceedings of the second respon