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Judgment
Govindasamy, J.—The petitioner has filed the above writ petition for issue of a writ of certiorarified mandamus to quash the orders of the
first respondent dated 27.7.1984 in his proceeding in D.Dis.2722/84 and to direct the second respondent to decide the case again in accordance
with the provisions of law. The petitioner owned and possessed land of an extent of about 45-1/2 cents, which is equivalent to 1800 square meters
approximately, comprised in R.S. No. 210/2 and situated in Thiruvanmiyur village. The family of the petitioner consists of the petitioner, his wife
and his son on the date when the Act viz., The Tamil Nadu Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1978 (Act 24 of 1978) (hereinafter referred
to as the Act) came into force with effect from 3.8.1976. u/s 3(p) of the Act, vacant land means, land not being land mainly used for the purpose
of agriculture, in an urban agglomeration, but does not include (i) land on which construction of a building is not permissible under the building
regulations in force in the area in which such land is situated. After commencement of the Act, the petitioner submitted a return in accordance with
the provisions of the Act. The Assistant Commissioner by his proceedings No. 1684/81, dated 5.12.1983, in exercise of the powers conferred u/s
10 of the Act, determined the vacant land held by the petitioner in excess of the ceiling limit as shown in the final statement in Form III which was
enclosed therein. In Form III it is specified that the petitioner''s family was permitted to hold within the ceiling area of 1500 square metres and also
determined mat an extant of 300 square metres was surplus. Aggrieved by the said order, the petitioner preferred an appeal u/s 33 of the Act
before the Commissioner of Land Reforms. The Commissioner of Land Reforms by the impugned order dated 27.7.1984 in D.Dis.2722/84 held
that it was reported that the land was vacant and that according to the provisions of the Act, the request of the urban land owner to allow
peripheral clearance area to a vacant land cannot be considered and accordingly rejected the appeal. It is at this stage, the petitioner has filed the
above writ petition for the (sic) relief to quash the said order.
Mr. S. Gopalaratnam, Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner contended that the definition in Section 3(p) is to the effect that vacant land
means, land not being land mainly used for the purpose of agriculture in an urban agglomeration, but does not include (i) land on which construction
of a building is not permissible under the building regulations in force in the area in which such land is situated. The learned Counsel further
contended that if a building is constructed, the appurtenant area of about more than 461 square metres has to be kept in tact, over which
construction of a building is not permissible as per building rules and regulations in the area and consequently that area cannot be considered as
vacant land within the meaning of Section 3(p) of the Act.
Mr. M. Govindarajan, learned Additional Government Pleader represented that the land in question comes within the provisions of Section 3(p)
and consequently the impugned order is sustainable under law. Considering the aforesaid contentions, the contention put forward by the learned
Counsel for the petitioner is sustainable in law in view of the fact that over an area of 461 square metres, construction of a building is not
permissible as per rules and regulations applicable to building agglomeration. Consequently, the plea that Section 3(p) of the Act is applicable to
the said area and it can be consumed as vacant land cannot be accepted. In view of the aforesaid conclusion arrived at, the impugned order cannot
be sustained and it is liable to be set aside and accordingly it is hereby set aside. Consequently it is held that the petitioner is holding the entire land
within the ceiling limit under the provisions of Act. The writ petition is allowed and the Rule Nisi is made absolute. No costs.