Case ID: 4010

Judgment:
Civil Appeal No. 2085 of 1969. From the Judgment and Decree dated 15 11 68 of the Madras High Court in Criminal Side Appeal No. 45/65. M. Natesan and Mrs. section Gopalakrishnan for the Appellants. V. section Desai	 P. G. Gokhale and section R. Agarwala for the Respondents 1 2. 702 Ex parte for the Respondents 3.8. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by SARKARIA	 J. This appeal by certificate is directed against an Appellate Judgment and Decree	 dated November 15	 1968	 of the High Court of Madras. The facts leading to this appeal are as follows: The following pedigree table will be helpful in understanding the relationships of the parties: Palaniandi Pillai (died on 19 5 1928) | | | | | | | | Ramaswami Pillai Vadovelu Pillai Nataraja Pillai | (dies in 1953) (died in 31 1 57) | Dharmambal | (died in 1940) | | | | | R.Ekambaram R.Bala | subramaniam| (1st Defdt.) (2nd Defdt)| | | Rajamani Kamala Padma Sarada Laitha Selvaraj (3rd (4th (5th (6th (7th (died in 1952) Defdt.) Defdt.) Defdt.) Defdt.) Defdt.) =Rajammal (8th Defdt.) Palaniandi Pillai	 shown in the above pedigree table	 owned considerable properties. On December 12	 1927	 he executed a Will whereby he bequeathed certain properties to each of his three sons. He appointed his sons	 Ramaswami Pillai and Vadivelu Pillai	 as Executors of his Will. In regard to his third son	 Nataraja Pillai	 the testator in clause 5 of the Will stated: "My third son	 Nataraja Pillai	 shall take the income accruing from the properties	 namely	 my cast stand	 house and ground	 situate in the Western Row of Mint Street	 bearing Municipal Door No. 278	 Re survey No. 600	 Collector 's Certificate No. 750 and the 5 Godowns	 namely	 2 Godowns situate in Varadaraja Mudali St.	 bearing Municipal Door No. 90 and 91	 and 3 Godowns situate in 3rd North Beach Road bearing Municipal Door Nos. 5	 6 and 7 to 9	 Re survey No. 3158 and 3187	 Collector 's Certificate No. 2550. After his life time	 if he leaves any male issue	 they shall take the aforesaid properties	 with 703 powers of alienations such as gift	 usufructuary mortgage and sale. If there are no male issue as aforesaid	 my heirs shall take the aforesaid properties. " Although the Will had not been probated	 yet	 by mutual arrangements between the first two sons who were named Executors in the Will	 and the third son	 Nataraja Pillai	 the properties were distributed in consonance with the terms of the Will and the Executors conveyed and transferred the same to the respective legatees	 and mutual release deeds were	 also	 executed by the three sons. Ramaswamy Pillai died in 1954 and Vadivelu Pillai in 1953	 Nataraja Pillai died on January 31	 1957	 without leaving any issue. His widow	 Krishnammal	 the appellant herein	 filed the suit (C. section No. 7 of 1959) out of which this appeal has arisen. She claimed (a) partition and separate possession of one third share in the (plaint schedule) properties left by her husband Palaniandi Pillai	 alleging that the properties ' were in the possession of the joint family consisting of his sons	 or in the alternative	 (b) for a declaration of her title and for possession of the properties on the ground that her husband Nataraja Pillai got the same absolutely by way of partition under the deed	 dated July 14	 1928	 and she	 as his heir	 inherited the properties; in the alternative	 (c) for a declaration of her rights to the properties on a true construction of the Will of her father in law	 Palaniandi Pillai	 and for possession of the properties. The sons of Ramaswamy Pillai	 respondents 1 and 2 herein	 were impleaded as defendants 1 and 2	 and the daughters of Vadivelu Pillai	 respondents 3 to 7	 were defendants 3 to 7. The daughter in law of Vadivelu Pillai	 respondent 8 herein	 was added as 8th defendant. The findings of the learned trial Judge	 material for our purpose	 were as follows: (i) Nataraja Pillai got only a life estate in the properties set out in Schedule I of the Plaint; (ii) the contingent interest in favour of the heirs of Palaniandi Pillai became vested only on the death of Nataraja Pillai	 (iii) it is not open to the plaintiff	 Krishnammal	 to invoke Section 8 of the ; (iv) on the termination of the life interest given to Nataraja Pillai	 the gift over in favour of the male issues could not take effect as he did not leave any male issue	 with the consequence	 that the properties	 in effect	 became revested in Palaniandi Pillai	 but devolved on his heirs as if on intestacy; (v) Section 111 of the Indian succession Act would be applicable. 704 In the result	 the appellants ' suit was decreed and it was held that she was entitled to one third share and separate possession of the same by partition of the Plaint Schedule 1 properties	 and defendants 3 to 8 were equally entitled to one third share together with mesne profits relating to their shares in the said properties	 while defendants 1 and 2 were entitled to the remaining one third share. Aggrieved	 defendants 1 and 2 preferred Letters Patent Appeal in the High Court	 contending that	 according to the terms of the Will of Palaniandi Pillai	 they were his only heirs and entitled to get the entire properties in which Nataraja Pillai held only a life interest; and that neither the plaintiff nor defendants 3 to 8 were entitled to any share. The Appellate Bench of the High Court purporting to proceed mainly on the scope and construction of Clause 5 of the Will of Palaniandi Pillai	 held: (1) By his Will (exhibit P. 2) the testator had made "my heirs"	 i.e. the testator 's heirs as an "artificial" class of ultimate residuary legatees. (2) This class of legatees or "my heirs" did not acquire a vested interest in the residuary bequest on the death of the testator. (3) The ultimate bequest in their favour would become vested only in the event of Nataraja dying sonless. (4) The mandate implicit in the words "if there are no male issues as aforesaid" occurring in Clause 5 of the Will (exhibit P. 2) is that such class of legatees or heirs of the testator would be ascertained and worked out at that point of time when Nataraja died sonless	 and at no other. (5) This class of "my heirs" of the testator would be ascertained with reference to the point of Nataraja 's death (without a son) on January 31	 1957	 when succession opened out and the bequest became distributable	 "on the hypothesis that Palaniandi Pillai had lived up to that time" i.e. January 31	 1957. (6) Although this class of the heirs of the testator was to be ascertained on January 31	 1957 on the hypothesis that the testator and Nataraja died simultaneously	 such ascertainment could not be done either by resorting to the Hindu Women 's Rights to Property Act	 1937 or to the 	 because Palaniandi Pillai actually died in 1928	 long before the coming into force of these two enactments and he did not die intestate. 705 (7) Such class of heirs of the testator were to be determined according to the orthodox Hindu Law prevailing at the time of the testator 's death on May 19	 1928. (8) Section 111 of the Indian Succession Act was not applicable. On the above reasoning	 the Appellate Bench of the High Court reversing the decree of the learned trial Judge	 held that Respondents 1 and 2 herein were the only persons entitled to the entire Schedule 1 property on the death of Nataraja Pillai	 to the exclusion of the latter 's widow	 the plaintiff. Thus the appeal was allowed and the plaintiff 's suit dismissed. After obtaining a certificate under Article 133 of the Constitution from the High Court	 the plaintiff	 Krishnammal	 has come in appeal before this Court. Controversy in this case hinges around the scope and construction of Clause 5 of the Will (exhibit P 2). In that connection	 the first question that arises for consideration is: Did the testator by this Clause create or carve out an "artificial" class of his heirs ' and make a residuary bequest in their favour ? In our opinion	 on a proper construction of the Will	 the answer to this question must be in the negative. It is well settled that legal terms such as "heirs"	 used in a Will must be construed in the legal sense	 unless a contrary intention is clearly expressed by the testator. The word "heirs"	 as pointed out by this Court in Angurbala Mullick vs Debabrata Mullick(1) cannot normally be limited to "issues" only. It must mean all persons who are entitled to the property of another under the law of inheritance. There is nothing in the language of Clause 5 of the Will which compels the construction that by use of the expression "my heirs" the testator meant something different from his 'heirs under the law. ' The expression "my heirs" has therefore to be construed as equivalent to "my legal heirs". Thus considered	 the words used in the last two sentences of Clause 5 of the Will are not words of gift over to any 'artificial ' class of heirs. They only indicate that in the event of Nataraja 's death without any male issue	 further devolution of the estate that had been given to him for life	 would be regulated in favour of the testator 's heirs ascertained in accordance with Hindu Law of intestate succession. That is to say	 the testator did not specify or lay down any line of heirs	 deviating from the Hindu Law of intestate succession. 706 The ground is now clear to consider the second question which is pivotal to the whole problem: Whether the heirs of the testator	 on whom the estate was to devolve in the event of Nataraja dying sonless	 were to be ascertained according to Hindu Law in force at the time of Nataraja 's death or according to Hindu Law	 prevailing in 1928 when the testator died. This question	 also	 is one of reaching at the real intent of the testator. In order to expatiate	 the true import of the last two sentences of Clause 5 of the Will (exhibit P 2)	 the same can be legitimately expanded	 parenthesized and elucidated so as to read like this: "After Nataraja 's life time	 if he leaves any male issue	 they shall take the aforesaid properties	 with powers of alienation. If Nataraja dies without leaving any male issue	 then my heirs	 then ascertained according to law of inheritance	 shall take the aforesaid properties." Thus amplified and elucidated	 Clause 5 of the Will brings out	 expressly or by inevitable implication	 the intention and instructions of the testator in regard to the following: (a) In the event of the termination of the life estate of Nataraja on his death	 without male issue	 the property will devolve on "my heirs" i.e. the testator 's heirs. (b) Such heirs of the testator are to be ascertained according to the Hindu Law of intestate succession. (c) Such ascertainment of the heirs of the testator is to be done on the date of Nataraja 's death without male issue	 when succession opens out in favour of those heirs	 and not with reference to the date of the testator 's death. This necessarily implies that "my heirs" of the testator are required to be ascertained on the hypothesis that the testator lived upto and died a moment after Nataraja 's death. If what is spelled out at (a)	 (b) and (c) be the true construction of Clause 5 of the Will	 it logically and inexorably follows therefrom	 that ascertainment of the heirs of the testator	 on whom the property was intended to devolve in the event of Nataraja dying sonless	 was to be made in accordance with Hindu Law of intestate Succession as in force on the date of Nataraja 's death	 on January 31	 1957	 when succession opened out	 and not in accordance with the orthodox Hindu Law prevailing in 1928	 which on the relevant date	 January 31	 1957	 stood abrogated and superseded by the . The conclusion is therefore inescapable that "my heirs" referred to by the testator in Clause 5 of his Will	 have to be ascertained in accordance with the . In so 707 doing	 we are only giving effect to the import and construction of the Will of the testator	 and no question of giving retrospective operation to the statute is involved. The learned Judges of the High Court have said that at the time of making the Will	 the testator could not predicate that at the time of Nataraja 's death without leaving any son	 the Hindu Law of Succession would be different from the one prevailing at the time of making the Will or the testator 's death. Nevertheless	 the testator was definitely contemplating the contingency of Nataraja dying without any male issue	 and the necessity of ascertaining the testator 's heirs at that point of time for further devolution of the property. It cannot	 therefore	 be said that ascertainment of the testator 's heirs according to the law in force at the time of happening of the contemplated contingency	 was wholly beyond the ken of the testator. In the view we take of the import and scope of Clause 5 of the Will (exhibit P. 2) ascertainment of the heirs of Palaniandi Pillai has to be done on the assumption that he died intestate	 a moment after Nataraja Pillai 's death	 according to Sections 8 to 10 of the . At that point of time	 the plaintiff (who would be assumed to be the widow of a "predeceased" son)	 and the defendants would all be heirs of the testator	 falling in Class I of the Schedule referred to in Section 8. According to Section 9	 all the heirs in Class I of the Schedule shall take simultaneously	 to the exclusion of all other heirs. The distribution of the property among the plaintiff and defendants will be governed by Rules 3 and 4 in Section 10	 which are as under: "Rule 3. The heirs in the branch of each predeceased son or each predeceased daughter of the intestate shall take between them one share. " "Rule 4. The distribution of the share referred to in Rule 3 (i) among the heirs in the branch of the predeceased son shall be so made that his widow (or widows together) and the surviving sons and daughters get equal portions; and the branch of predeceased sons gets the same portion; (ii) among the heirs in the branch of the predeceased daughter shall be so made that the surviving sons and daughters get equal portions. " 708 In accordance with the aforesaid provisions of the 	 the plaintiff would be entitled to get 1/3rd share in Schedule I property in which her husband had a life interest	 while the remaining 2/3rd share in the property shall be equally distributed among the two branches of the defendants	 the branches of Ramaswami and Vadivelu getting 1/3rd share each. For the foregoing reasons	 we allow this appeal	 set aside the judgment of the High Court and pass a preliminary decree for partition and separate possession in favour of the plaintiff with respect to her 1/3rd share in the suit property. In the circumstances of the case	 the parties are left to pay and bear their own costs. P.B.R. Appeal allowed.

Summary:
By a will the testator bequeathed certain properties to each of his three sons. With regard to his third son (NP) the testator provided in Clause 5 of the will that if he had no male issues "my heirs shall take the aforesaid properties" after his life time. NP died in 1957 without any male issue. His widow (plaintiff appellant) filed a suit for declaration of her title to the properties on the ground that her husband got the same absolutely by way of partition and that she	 as his heir	 inherited the properties or in the alternative for a declaration of her right to the properties on a true construction of the testator 's will. (Defendants 1 and 2 were the sons of the testator 's eldest son while defendants 3 to 7 were the daughters and defendant 8 the widowed daughter in law of the testator 's second son.) The trial judge of the High Court decreed the plaintiff 's suit holding that on the termination of the life interest given to NP who died sonless the properties devolved on the heirs of the testator as if on intestacy	 that the plaintiff was entitled to 1/3 share of the properties	 and that the remaining 2/3 share should be share by the defendants. Defendants 1 and 2 appealed to a Division Bench of the High Court	 claiming that as the only heirs of the testator they were entitled to get the entire property of NP who had only a life interest in it. Construing cl. 5 of the will	 the Division Bench held : (1) that by his will the testator had made his heirs as an "artificial" class of ultimate residuary legatees; (2) that the mandate implicit in the words "if there are no male issues as aforesaid" is that such class of legatees or heirs of the testator would be ascertained and worked out at that point of time when NP died sonless and at no other; (3) that this class of heirs of the testator was to be ascertained on the death of NP on the hypothesis that the testator had been upto the time of NP 's death	 but according to orthodox Hindu Law prevailing at the time of the testator 's death in 1928; (4) that neither Hindu Women 's Right to Property Act	 1937	 nor the was applicable because the testator actually died long before the coming into force of these two enactments and he did not die intestate; (5) that according to Hindu Law prevailing at the time of the testator 's death in 1928	 respondents 1 and 2 would be the only persons entitled to the property on the death of NP	 to the exclusion of the latter 's widow	 the plaintiff. 701 Allowing the appeal. ^ HELD: 1(a) On a proper construction of the will the testator could not be said to have created or carved out an "artificial" class of heirs and made a residuary bequest in their favour. It is well established that the term "heirs" used in a will must be construed in a legal sense and cannot normally be limited to "issues" only. It must mean all persons who are entitled to the property of another under the law of inheritance. [705E F] Angurbala Mullick vs Debabrata Mullick	 [1951] 2 SCR 1125 at p. 1144; referred to. (b) The expression "my heirs" used in cl. 5 of the will must be construed as equivalent to "my legal heirs". The words "if there are no male issues my heirs shall take the aforesaid properties" are not words of gift over to any artificial class of heirs. [705G] 2. Construction of clause 5 of the will brings out expressly or by inevitable implication	 these instructions of the testator: (a) In the event of NP 's death	 without male issue	 the property would devolve on the testator 's heir. (b) Such heirs of the testator would be ascertained according to Hindu Law of intestate succession. (c) Ascertainment of these "heirs" of the testator	 is to be done at the time of NP 's death on the hypothesis that the testator lived up to and died a moment after NP 's death. (d) It logically follows from (a)	 (b) and (c) that these heirs of the testator would be ascertained according to the 	 which was the law in force on 31 1 57 when NP died sonless and succession opened out. [706 D F] 3. On the port and scope of cl. 5 of the will	 as spelled out above	 ascertainment of the testator 's heirs on whom the property would devolve on NP 's death	 is to be done according to sections 8 to 10 of the . At that point of time	 the plaintiff (who would be assumed to be the widow of a "predeceased" son) and the defendants would all be the heirs of the testator	 falling in Class I of the Schedule referred to in section 8	 and in accordance with Rules 3 and 4 in Section 10 of the Act	 the plaintiff would be entitled to 1/3rd share	 in the property	 while the remaining 2/3rd share shall go equally to the branches of Ramaswami and Vedivelu. [707 DE]