P.Nirathilingam vs Annaya Nadar & Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the jurisdictional conflict between civil suits and proceedings under the Tamil Nadu Debt Relief Act, 1980, specifically Section 4. It held that once a civil suit is instituted, the Special Tahsildar loses jurisdiction to grant relief under the Act, as established in K.V.S.P. Subramanian Chettiar vs. R.D.O., Arantangi. The Court upheld the High Court's decision to quash the Tahsildar's order and directed that the parties should resolve their claims in the civil court, reinforcing the binding nature of civil court decisions in such matters.