In Brief
Three major oil companies sought to purchase leasehold land where they had built petrol pump stations but subsequently licensed those to dealers. The Supreme Court held that the Madras City Tenants' Protection Act, 1921 only protects tenants in actual physical possession of premises they occupy for their own use. Since the oil companies had relinquished possession to dealers and licensees, they could not claim protection. The Court dismissed the appeals, holding that the statutory right to purchase land requires the tenant to retain personal occupation—merely constructing a structure without continued possession does not confer statutory protection or purchase rights."
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