JUDGMENT :

VENUTHURUMALLI GOPALA KRISHNA RAO, J.

1. The appeal is filed against the judgment and decree dated 23-4-2001 in O.S. No. 7 of 1996 passed by the Senior Civil Judge, Narasapur, West Godavari District. The suit is filed for recovery of Rs.1,56,540/- being stridhana amount of Rs.80,000/- of late Venkata Lakshmi Narasamma, wife of the 1st defendant and the value of 6 sovereigns of gold to a tune of Rs.21,000/- belonging to her, with interest thereon and for costs.

2. The case of the plaintiffs as narrated in the plaint, in brief, is as follows:

(a) It is pleaded that the 1st plaintiff is the husband of 2nd plaintiff and he is the father of 3rd plaintiff. The 1st defendant is the son of defendants 2 and 3. The 4th defendant is the brother of 1st defendant. The plaintiffs 1 and 2 have got two daughters. Their 2nd daughter Venkata Lakshmi Narasamma was married to the 1st defendant on 07-02-1993 in Narasapur as per Hindu usage and caste customs. At the time of negotiations of the marriage, the defendants demanded a sum of Rs.80,000/- and for presentation of 5 sovereigns of gold as bala todugu and one sovereign of gold ring to the 1st defendant. Accordingly, the 1st plaintiff through