--------------- --- • -cJ#- •.•·. 3° Kumaa Pillai and Vaid±a1inaam JJ. ,;;.( - - .. _ -- - .. -•...•t.:,--c.1.!J.' AiS.520 of 1949 (M). ------------------~- JUDGMENT dolivcrad by Kum.are Pillai, J. --------------------~--------- This appeal arises out of a suit fo!.' pa!'tition. : , -,, c·,J<J Pa~tics arc Muhammadans. Thero a=c two sisters named Pathumma Kutty Umma and Katheessa Kutty Umma, am unde!' Ex-Al Karar dated 26~9-1896 cxccutc:l by; the .hc:1.2."'s of Pathumm.a Kutty Um.ma and by .hor sister Kathoossa Ku.tty Umma a.nd thci r bm ther Ammotti Haji, ccrta.:i.n p::-opcrtics V'1C!.'O allottcc1 to Kathoessa Kutty Umma and tho hcis 0f Pathumma Kutty Umma as tcmw.ts in ca.mm.on, tho share of Kathoossa Kutty Umma in thoso :p!'opo!'- tios being 1/2. It is tho p!'opoz.-ty which KathoGssa Kutty Umma al" tcj% got undo!' Ex-Al, that is ow sought to/bo dividcd. Kathoessa A Kutty Umm.a had ono son n.amod Abdul Kado!' and t1:110 daughto!'s, ono of whom p!'ecleeeascd without leaving any .m:r=:e issuo. N Dcfondant 1 is Abc1ul Kac1c!'' a son. Afto:- the deaths or Kathccsaa Kutty Umma anc1 Abclul Kader, dofcnc1a.n.t 1 and his mother,i.e., Abdul Kadcr's widow,jointly cxocutad an assignmcnt Ex-Al3 in favou.:.:- of the plaintiff on 3-3-1945 convoyir~ to him tho sharo which Abdul Kador had obtaincd i.: the plaint- 1):!."Dpc::-tics as on.a of the hei!'s of Kathoo3sa Kutty Umma. 0n 20-4-1945, plaintiff also took ar.othcn ssigcnt Ex-Al4 f'.!'on c1ofon.c1ant 4 ·_J.J was ono of tho sans of Kathcossa Kutty Umma 's d~ughtc!' Bcovi who hacl su.:i:-vivoc1 a.nc1 who dioc1 ' subsequently. Acco::-dir.:.g to tho pl::3intiff', Abdul Kaclc!'Df had 3rs £> 2/3 !'ights in Kathoemrn Kutty"o p.!'opc.!'tics and Bcovi 1/3 :-ight. Dci'c::cl::lnt 4 :had 1/6 !"ight in Beovi 's sha!'G.. Plaintiffb!'ought the suit £or partition oi tlc shacs l soi an? Ex9-A13 0nc1 Al4, case ocing :is hc was C!tit1cd o 14/36 of the Kathoessa Kutty Umma and tho ch:tlcl::-01~ ~f Puthu.r.im.a Kutty Umma got -2- got unde.!' Ex-Al. Plai~':.tiff claims that ho got 6/18 sha!'o in ho plaint proporica by vituc £ Ex-A1 and 1/18 by vi:i:-tuo of Ex-A14. Kathocssa Kutty U.rnaia•s daughto.!' Becvi had 5 child.!'en namely, dofonc1antG 2, 3, 4 and 5 and a daughto.!' named Ma!'ian Kutty who is now dead am1. whaso husband is dofcnc1ant 6. Dof'c.tld,:E1ta 7, 8, 9, 10 an.cl 1l aro the child.!'on , of Ma.!'iamkutty end dofcnclant 6. Dofcnclant 47 is tho ass.i.gnoc 11--.,Li f':i:-am tho hill:lband of one Kunhi .Ayiaswnm.a who was s... p.!'adccoased daug.hto.!' or Kathoossakut ty Umrna al!'G~H1y .:i:-of'c!':i:-ocl to. Ir ho 1owc cast, dcrc@ants 2, 5, 4, 5, 8, 7 and 47 filed / w2"it ten statcmonts1 defendant 6 • s w:i:-i tton statement bcizg on his own bchal± as wall as on b0ha11 3 dcfcndat 8, 9, 10 and 11 who wo:i:-o mino!'s and whose gua:i:-dian ho was. dan.ts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and they also cl~lim.ed sha.!'GS in tho K::Jthoossa Kutty U.mm.a was gove:i:-ned This/.q,osi tion was acccptoc1 by dcfcn- cpc ct Thc plai±ti?s suit wss by thG Muhammadan 1aw. . . . • lowor court in the plairt-proportics on this/bas13. Doan@ant 47 contended that Kun.hi Ayiasa Umma was also entitled to;a sha:!:'e in Katheessa Kutty Umina's p.!'opG.!'tics, that Kunhi Ayissa sha:i:-e to defendant 47. Umm.a'a husband had obtaL'J.cd a sharo in Kunhi Ayissa Umma's h.o.d_ sharc on hc:.i:- death ar.:.c: that he {tho husba.'1C1) assignod his n Th l0war court found that daendant 47 had not p:.i:-ovcc1 tho c1ato oi' Kunhi Aiasumma 's death ar.:£1 that thc.!'ci'o :i:-e /-. establishcd t:he hc hucbzd had tao. any ohs i:: Kthccsaa the validity of ;tho assigrJD.cnt takon by defendant 47. Although 4..,& dGf'c~-;.dants 2, 3, 4,. 5, 6 a!!c1 7 he:¥£ canccc1oc1 t.lmt in 2'.'csocct ~f the plaint p.!'opo.!'tics, Katheossa Kutty Um.ma was govo:!:'nod by Muhammadan Law, tho lm11c_:,:, CGU!'t fou.'1<1 that sho was govo:i:-nod ~tho Ma:!:'wnakkathayam Law and tho~ofor.c, it gavo a dOC2"GG ta -G- to tho plaintii'f' only:fo!' 1/18 of the plaint p!'ope!'ties. Plaintiff has tho!'cfo!'o, filed this appeal, his contention hc!'o being that Kathoossa Kutty Umma was govc!'nGcl by tho Muhammadan Law and that ho is on.titloc1 to 7/18 of the plaint- properties. Dcfcndant 47 also has filcd a memorandum of Defendants 8 and 10 attained majo.!'ity aftc!' the appeal was filed; and afto!':;they attained majo!'ity, thoy engagoc1 a sepa!'ato counsel in tchis court andnfilcd a petition ho!'e !'epudiating tho w.!'itten-statomcnt filed by dcfcndant 6 on thci!' bohal:f' ~u:d contcncling that Kathcessu Kutty Umma was governed by the Ma!'umak.k:athayam Law and not by tho Muhammadan Law. • If Kathoossa Kutty Umm.a was governed by the Marumak- kathayam ~ Law, defendants 8 and 10 woulc1 be entitled to nl, '.} 2/9 of hc proportics. Defendants 2, 5, 4, 5 and 7 would, in that case, bo entitled to 5/9 of the plaint-p:.i."opcrtios. It is significant that those parsons,who wcrc entitled to mc than 1/2 share of the properties which bolongoc1 to Kathoossakutty Umma, hac1 ac1mittec1 in the lower court that Kathoossakutty Umma was governocl by the Muha.m.nw dan Law and not by tho Ma.!'umakkathayam Law. Defendants 4 and 7 still ~ ;.·c :__<:_,..,} speak to that posit:ion in this court. Dcfcr@ants 22, 3 and 5 not havc/committGcl themselves to any dofinito 19.ecisi~ in this curt, but it has tc be stated that their counsel M!'.Bala- k.!'ishna E!'adi stutcd at the time qC hoa!'i.ng t.ha t he had !'ccoivoc1 inst!'uctionc f':_;:-am them to oppose the plaintiff's claim. Consicleri.ng the unequivocal admissian made by them in the lowor c otr:·t, we arc incline c1 to think tlwt thoi !' =" te p!'osent attitude is "fl:I. !'csult 0£ prcssuro brought to bear on hcm by c1cfc.r:c1ants 8 and 10. Having !'Gga!'cl to tho admis- sions mac1o by defendants 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 in the lowor court, WO we arc inclined to hold that Kathoessa Kutty Umma was govc.!'ncd really by the Muhammadan Law and not by the Marumak:kathayam Law. But tho frtz fact rcmains that defencl ant fl 8 and 10 havo now repudiated the writ ton-statement filed. by defendant 6 on thoi~ behalf i:: the lower court a.?:cl that as they Htteinod r, majo.!'ity only after this appoal was filed, an oppo!'tunity 9&« ls has.(...no.!'nlally ~ given to them to,(substantiatc thci,:, case - ·- "· that Kathcossa Kutty Umm.a was govc.!'nGc1 by the Ma!'umak:kathayam Law. Evon ii' she was govc.!'nod by the Ma!'umak:kathayam Law, dei'ondants 8 and 10 would be entitled only to 1:.m3 2/9 of ho~:- p.!'opc!'t:ics ancl. the pursons who arc cnti tlccl to 5/9 had clearly rz. ac1mittcd in the l::)WC!' cott!'t that she was govc.!'.!1Gcl by .;tlua Muhammadan Law. Thc pcrsns who arc entitled to the rcmaini:1g 2/9 a.!'c dofoncl.ants 9 and 11. Doi'cncl.ant 11 has not !'cpudiatcc1 ...s tho W:!.'itten-statcmcnt th::t his i'athc:!.' in the lowc:- coU.!'t as t his guardian a@mite& th t Kathcossa Kutty Umma was govcrnoc1 by the Mu..'llai!ll!l!.:1 c1an Law. Dofe.r.!l.an.t 9 attainec1 majority dU.!'in.:; the course of the suit and sho died only aftc~ the 1:1p:pcl:1l wus :Ki:ix i'ilccl in this coll!'t. Till hc:i:- death s.ho too hac1 not !"C:pudiatcdr~ ~ w~~ittcn-stetcmGJ-:t f'ilccl on hc:i:- behalf by defc.n.dant 6 admit that Kathoossa Kutty Ufill.110 wee e;o-vc2:J:cd • by MLlhr:Eurwcb~: L2:-·M. In the ciz-cu.mst!:1nccs,w1rnt t~ clcfonda:1ts -.-G. S r 8 and 10 ca±: urge is hr/hay should bo given thci!' legitimate sharo in Kathcccsa Kutty Umma' propcrtics on hc basisphat she was govo.!'nccl by the Ma.!'umak:kathayam Law. Although _tho plaintiff's case that Kathccssa Kutty Umma was govc!'noc1 by tho Mu..riam.rnadt:)n Law appcars prima facie to·bc t,..uo nl :.,·i.-1•;-r•·"'"' c-~,.,-_,":\nl "'tr:!tcc1 th:::.t ·;;2.tll ~! v:lo-w t,, ) '-· $ l" a- ) » .o- i) avoid d.olay and furthc complication£plaintiff was willing to surrcndo± 2/9 shac £um tho shsro that ho has got undo!' Exs-A13 anc1 Al4 to cl.ofc:1cl.r:Jnts 8 and 10. In viG·,v of this to giva dcfcn@ants 8 and 10 an opportunity to substantiate thci: thoi!" case that Kathoossakutty Um.ma was govG.!'noc1 by· tho Muhammadan Law. F~tho!', tho ca3e which defendants 8 ancl 10 have. put f o::::.wt:i!'c1, namely that thci:i:- gua.!'c1.ianIthoi!' fathe!'J> ,-:- C _,_, llac1 acted 1'!'auc1ulcntly in f'il:1.ng the w::-ltten statement, is a contcntim1 which. p!'opc!'ly speaking, should bo raiscc1 by way of a frosh suit. So far us dcf'cnc1ant 47 's mcmo:-andum of objections is conccrncd, wo arc of tho opinion that thc lowcr court was ::-ight in !'ofusi.ng to uphold tho valicli ty of the assignment givon by Kun.hi .Ayissumma 's husbi:uic1 to him. Although the 01:rnc or d.cfon.c1.r::!nt 4? :1.::: tllat Kun.hi Ayissa Umm.a had survivec1 Kathccs- sakutty U.mma and chorcy obtaincd a aha::oc in Kathcossa Ku.tty Am.ma's p!'opc!'ty on ho!' death, c1ofondant 47 has adduced absolutely no ovicla.'1.co es ::-cgr::i.:-cls the clato or Kunhi Ayissa Umma•s doath. The only otho!' matte!' a:-gucc1 at tho Ba!' was .·tho claim mado by tho plaintiff in :!."es:pe ct of mesne p!'ofits. Tho lowGr court has awardoc1 to; the plt:dntif:f mes.no gr:.,fits on.ly in2 rspcet o 1/18 aharc ti givon to him by the prelimi- na!'Y c1cc!'cc. Plt:lintiff's cou.nscl urgdi ·chat in viow of ow. fir2ding that Katlccssa Katy Una was governed by Muhammadan Law and in view of tho admissions o£ d0fondants 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and 7, ho was entitled toi all the shares claimed by him in the plaint o.:- atlcrast to ;5/18 in tho plaint popcrtics and that ho was entitled to get a c1acroo fo~:- m.csno p:':'ofits in reapoct or that share. So fa!.',. as the ql.l£.lstion of mcsnc p,:,ofits is conccr.::cc1, it ha~ to/,bo said that defendant 12, from whom tho mosno profits arc claimed, had s caso in his wit;:cn statcmcnt that he was not i.n possession of tho plaint-pr-r.>portics O!' that ho was not in solo posscssin o£ i:ho plaint-proportics C-.a - » and that tho,heirs waro given thoi!' logit:imato sha!'G oi' tho mosno • mosne profit. 'ha lowon court has not discussad tchis oontcnti:.,n O!" r.oco!"c1oc1 any definite finding thereon. It i:t also to;bo said :;that ncitho!' clof'ondant 12 no!" his Legal • Rop2...csontdtivos llsvc filoc1 ar..y objection to tho c1ec!'oe givon to the plaintiff fo!"/mcsne p!'ofits in rcs:pcn't of 1/18 sha!'O. In the circl.l.l!lStanccs, with a viow to avoid f~thc!' Jiu delay and futU!'o complications, we would rost!"ict thc award of mesne p:i:-ofits to the -plu:U:t:.ff to ;tho 1/18 share allowwod by the lowc!' coU!'t and !"e-f~si-.llg mosnG p!'ofits in respect tchc largcr sharc which we arc now awa!'ding to him. Fo!" thc !'Gasons statcc1 above, we set aside tho p!"Glim.ina!'y dcc!.'ce passed by tho lowo!' cou!'t ar.:£1 pass a f!'csh p!.'clilnina!"y- decree in thc suit: as follows: It is he!'cby dcclo!'od that tho plaintiff' is ontitloc1 to 5/18 of tho plaint popcrics, dcfcndants 8 an 10 a:-o entitled to 2/1a1and defendants 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 11 are entitled to 2/18. The sha!'e namely, 2/10,to which defendants 2, 3, 5, 6,aw•xtt 7 and 11 a!'O entitled, will;bo allotted as a common allotment fo!' all thonG defendants togcthe!';and the sha!'G namely, 2/18 ,1 to which dcfondants 8 and 10 a!'O entitled will;be allotted as comm.en allotment to those two 1--- dcfendants. Tho lowc!' coU!'t will pass a final dccroG in by metos and bol.l!!ds aftc!' issuing a commission. Plaintiff is allowed to rccovo!' f~orri defendant 12 and. his estate mcsno -· profits from datc £ Ex-Al4 to this date a or tic share"Go ·all:tcll ch.c loo court has allocd to him by the p!"cli.mina:-y ' dcc.:r-ce. Pa!'tics will bur-:· ti--.cL: =-a- Nspeetive costs. ~ We arc not this day, as we a!'C pasci:; any doc?cc £or moor.c pro£its after •• '""' - ' C j/l, - -- ' - - - ,_ appointing henebsy tho Official Rcccivar • !{ ', i'U..'lCtioning in the Tclli:dhC!':,:-Y Dis t:-ict C~ll2?t, 8.3 Rccci VG:1:' • >.conrh' tor Katheess~ Kutty Umma's into±cst in tho plaint propertioa, ~~- ~~ • . -· .. .. .. . . . ./ II. /J'/) Tho mosne profits rcalisod by the Official Receiver will be . . disbursecl on application to the lower coUZ"t in acco!'dance with the shares of the parties specified in this doc.!'oe. Roga!'cli.n.g tho afunj.nis t.!'eti6n of the p:i:aopc.::ty ancl his remuneration, tho Official Rcccivor will take o.::dG.!'S from the lower coll!'t. - '1th March 1958. £sn' ) I I l