K. Sreedhar Rao, J.--The appeal filled against the judgment and decree of the I Additional Civil Judge, Senior Division, Bijapur in O.S. No. 208/1995. The Appellants are the defendants in the suit. The Respondents-Plaintiffs filed the suit for partition and separate possession of the suit properties claiming to be the joint family properties and belonging to the husband of the first defendant. The second defendant is the daughter of the first defendant. The Plaintiffs are the nephews. According to Plaintiffs one Shankarappa who is the propositus had two sons by name Gurulingappa and Sharanappa. The first Plaintiff is the wife of Sharanappa who died in the year 1951 and the second Plaintiff is born in the wedlock between Sharanappa and the first Plaintiff. Shankarappa the propositus died in the year 1962 leaving behind his son Gurulingappa. The defendants 1 to 4 are the children of Gurulingappa who died in the year 1986. It is the contention of the Plaintiffs that the properties are the joint family properties and that the Plaintiffs are entitled to half share in the suit property. The defendants have disputed the relationship of Plaintiff as the wife of Sharanappa and the r