JUDGMENT

Bhan, J.-Leave granted in special leave petition (c) No. 1111 of 2000.

2. Bare essential facts, set out hereinafter, would in our opinion, be sufficient to appreciate the crux of controversy arising for the decision in these appeals.

3. Genealogy of the members of the family amongst whom the present dispute arises is as under:

GENEALOGY

NANJAPPA

/

/ /

KARIYAPPA (1901) DYAMAPPA (1910)

/

/ /

SHIVALINGAPPA (1942) (I) NANJAPPA (1923) MAHADEVAPPA (1965)

/ / /

SHIVALINGAPPA RANGAPPA (1916) / /

(Ist Defendant) (II) MAHESHWARAPPA SHIVALINGAPPA              Def.6         Def. 7 (III)

/ / /

CHANDRAMOHAN & KALIVEERAPPA ESWARAPPA NEELAM        3 Other Sons      Plaintiff 2 Plaintiff No. 1 Wife & 5 Other Sons       (Defts. 2 to 5) Plaintiffs 3 to 8

4. Plain