VENGDASALAM PILLAI vs UNION TERRITORY OF PONDICHERRY

The Supreme Court interpreted the definition of 'family' under Section 2(10) of The Pondicherry Land Reforms (Fixation of Ceiling on Land) Act, 1973, holding that minor sons must be considered members of the family for ceiling limit calculations, regardless of prior partition. The Court upheld the High Court's decision that the lands held by the appellant's wife and minor sons should be included in the appellant's holding, thus exceeding the ceiling limit. The appeal was dismissed, affirming the High Court's ruling that the appellant was not within the permissible ceiling limit as defined by the Act.