S. N. SUNDALAIMUTHU CHETTIAR vs PALANIYANDAVAN

The Supreme Court addressed the interpretation of 'cultivating tenant' under Section 2(a) and (ee) of the Madras Cultivating Tenants Protection Act, 1955, determining that a son-in-law can be considered a member of the family for the purpose of personal cultivation. The Court held that the heirs of a deceased cultivating tenant could be regarded as cultivating tenants if the son-in-law was physically cultivating the land, thus necessitating a remand to the Sub-Collector to ascertain the nature of the respondent's work. The previous orders of the High Court and Sub-Collector were set aside.