1. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2. The parties are referred to by their rank before the trial court for the sake of convenience. The appellant herein was the defendant in the suit. It was the case of the plaintiffs that the land bearing Survey Nos.16, 18 and 25 of Bilekahalli, measuring about 13 acres in all, known as Venkatappa Gardens belonged to one Venkataswamappa alias Venkataswamy. The premises bearing No.8, subsequently numbered as 324 and about 11 houses adjacent to he said lands were purchased by the said Venkataswamy. Rangamma and one Papaiah in the year 1896, which was subsequently sold to Rangamma, the sister of the said Venkataswamy in the year 1918. It is further contended that Venkataswamy, as the owner of the lands, sold some of the lands and the remaining lands were bequeathed to one R. Narayana Swamy, his nephew, as per will dated 8.12.1941 and by another will dated 10.12.1941. Venkataswamy had subsequently died. It is hence contended that R. Narayana Swamy became the absolute owner of the property. Rangamma, Narayana Swamy’s paternal aunt, by a registered gift deed, conveyed all the residential houses she was possessed of to Narayana Swamy.