While rejecting the argument based on delay, the Assistant Settlement Officer observed that the proceeding before him was by way of suo motu inquiry.
It has been pointed out by the learned companynsel for the appellant that although the companycerned estate wherein the disputed land is included was numberified and taken over by the Government in 1952 under the Tamil Nadu Estates Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act, 1948 Act XXVI of 1948 the order was passed belatedly after three decades.
918/2 as Salt Pan Paramboke and it appears that the respondents challenged the same as erroneous by a letter dated 13.10.1973 addressed to the Director of Settlement, Madras.
The matter was, thereafter, taken to the Madras High Court Special Appellate Tribunal formed under Section 30 of the Madras Minor Inams Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act, 1963 Act XXX of 1963 , where the parties reiterated their respective stands.
The dispute relates to the nature of a vast area of land, fully detailed in the records of the present case, and the claim of the respondents thereto.
The Settlement Officer, Thanzavur, passed an order dated 13.10.1982 holding that the entry Salt Pan Paramboke was wrongly made.
The appellant, Deputy Salt Commissioner, filed an appeal on behalf of the Government of India against this order under Section 11 3 of the Act, which was dismissed on 20.12.1983 by the Minor Inams Tribunal sub court, Chinglepet .
Dealing with the claim on merits the Assistant Settlement Officer relied upon the Settlement officers order dated 13.10.1982 holding that the land was minor inam.
Lalit Mohan Sharma, J. This appeal by special leave is directed against the decision of two Judges of the Madras High Court forming Special Appellate Tribunal under Section 30 of the Madras Minor Inams Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari Act, 1963 Act XXX of 1963 .
