Muniappa Reddi vs Subba Rao and Others

Section 3 (2) (d) of the Madras Estates Land Act includes in the definition of estate any village of which the land revenue alone has been granted in inam to a person not owning the kudivaram provided that the grant has been made, confirmed or recognized by the British Government, or any separated part of such village. The latter words must be taken to mean a separated part of a village of which village the land revenue alone has been granted in inam to a person not owning the kudivaram right. In this case the land revenue of the whole village has not been granted in inam, but only the land revenue of a portion. Therefore the inam does not come within the terms of the definitions-Section 3 (2) (d) which must be strictly construed. The District Munsif, therefore, had jurisdiction. This petition is dismissed with costs.