M. Satyanarayana Murthy, J.

1. The unsuccessful plaintiff in Original Suit No. 71 of 1983 on the file of the Court of Principal Subordinate Judge (Now, Principal Senior Civil Judge), Chittoor (For short, 'the trial Court') preferred this appeal against the decree and judgment dated 22.07.1996.

2. The appellant herein was the plaintiff and the respondent herein was the defendant before the trial Court in O.S. No. 71 of 1983. For convenience of reference, the ranks given to the parties in O.S. No. 71 of 1983 will be adopted throughout this judgment.

3. The plaintiff filed the suit for partition of schedule property into two equal shares and to allot one such share to him, alleging that plaintiff is the youngest son to his parents Reddyvari Rami Reddy and his wife. The plaintiffs elder brothers Kesavulu Reddy and Rajareddy constituted as members of Hindu joint family, possessing property at Thambuganipalle. As the defendant married the elder sister of the plaintiff, blessed with one daughter and no male children were born to the defendant and his wife, the defendant developed liking towards plaintiff. As there was nobody to look after agricultural work, the defendant wanted th