R.S.PATHAK, J.

(1) THESE appeals arise out of two suits for partition of Hindu coparcenary properties.

(2) THE principal parlies to the suits are P. S. Narayana lyer and his four sons. The eldest son, Easwara lyer, instituted Suit 367 of 1950, and the third son, Ramachandra lyer, was the plaintiff in Suit 474 of 1950. The suits relate to the same properties.

(3) THERE was a joint Hindu family consisting of Narayana Pattar, his three sons, Appu Pattar, Samu Pattar, Venkatarama Pal tar and their families. The geneological table is set out below :

(4) FOR greater convenience, the parties will be described hereafter as plaintiff and defendants according to their array in Suit 367 of 1950.

(5) THE family carried on a banking business and owned forest lands, wet lands and dry lands, tile works, ginning and groundnut factories. The coparcenary properties are situated in territories now included in the States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

(6) ON the death of Appu Pattar in 1900, the family affairs were managed by Samu Pattar until his death in 1925. The first defendant, his son was in the service of the Madras Bank (later the Imperial B