This appeal is filed by defendants 1, 3 to 6, 8 to 15 and 17 to 21 assailing the correctness of the judgment and decree dated 13-12-1999 passed in R.A. No. 12 of 1979, by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), KG.F., by which the judgment and decree dated 15-11-1977 passed in O.S. No. 26 of 1970, by the Munsiff, now Civil Judge (Junior Division), KG.F., is reversed and consequently decreed the suit filed by the respondents 1 to 4 herein.

Heard Sri A. Mohan Ram, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the defendants-appellants, Sri S.R. Krishnakumar, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondents 1(a)(i) to 1(a)(vi), 1(c), 3(a) and 4 and perused the material on record. For the sake of convenience, the parties are referred to as per their ranks before the Trial Court.

2. The plaintiffs-respondents 1 to 4 herein filed the suit for declaration and possession of the suit schedule property. It is the case of the plaintiffs that one Narasappa was a permanent tenant over the suit schedule property under the Inamdar (Jodidar) namely, Sri Subbarao; plaintiff 1 is the elder brother of said Narasappa, plaintiff 2 is daughter of said Narasappa, plaintiff 3 is the son-in-la