A common judgment is necessitated by the fact that the three appeals and cross objections arise out of judgment dated 16.12.1989 in O.S.No.119 of 1981 on the file of the Court of the Subordinate Judge, Ramachandrapuram. The sole appellant in A.S.No.558 of 1990 is second defendant in the suit. The appellant in other two appeals is fifth defendant in the suit and was also fifth respondent in the final decree proceedings, aggrieved by which he filed A.S.No.1267 of 1998 and A.S.No.13 of 2005. For the sake of convenience the appellants and the respondents are referred to by their status in the suit.

3. Muramalla Narayanamurthy was hereditary village carpenter of Alamuru Village. He was owner and possessor of various extents of agricultural land totally admeasuring about 7 to 8 acres comprised in various survey numbers situated at Alamuru, Edida and Mandapeta Villages. He was also owner of a tiled house at Alamuru Village. He and his wife Ganiraju (first defendant) were issueless. Therefore, both of them adopted Muramalla Ammannaraju (plaintiff) on 20.03.1946 and an adoption deed was duly registered on 07.10.1946. Adopted son-plaintiff; and Narayanamurthy constituted joint famil