(1)In estates governed by the Tamil Nadu Estates Land Act, 1908 (Tamil Nadu Act I of 1908), notwithstanding anything contained in that Act, the Village Panchayat shall have power subject to such restrictions and control [as may be prescribed] [See Rules issued in G.O. Ms. No. 273, Rural Development (C4), dated 28th December, 1999 and published in Part III, section 1(a), of the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette Extraordinary, dated 30th December 1999.] -(a)to regulate the use of lands which are set apart for any of the purposes referred to in item (b) of clause (16) of section 3 of the said Act, namely, threshing floors, cattle-stand, village-sites and other lands situated in the village which are set apart for the common use of the inhabitants of such village;(b)to exercise the powers vested in the Collector by section 20-A of the said Act, namely, to direct that any land referred to in clause (a) which is no longer required for its original purpose shall be used for any other specified communal purpose, provided that the sanction of the Collector is obtained therefor; and(c)to plant trees on any land the use of which is regulated by the Village Panchayat under clause (a):Provided that nothing contained in clause (b) shall be deemed to affect in anyway the operation of the provisos to sub-section (1) of the said section 20-A.
