JUDGMENT :

SOUMEN SEN, J.

1. The present appeal has arisen out of a preliminary decree dated July 20, 2012 passed by the learned Civil Judge (Senior Division), Second Court at Barasat, North 24 Parganas, in a suit for partition being Title Suit No. 139 of 2008.

2. The plaintiffs/respondents have filed the instant suit seeking partition of properties measuring approximately more or less 16 cottahs 9 chittaks of land. They claimed that the plaintiffs no. 4 and 5 along with the defendant/appellant and Shanti Ranjan Naha being the predecessor in interest of the plaintiffs no. 1 to 3 were brothers, who purchased land measuring approximately 7 cottahs 7 chittaks comprised under Khatian no. 90, R.S. Dag No. 6434. The said property was claimed to be adjacent to the property belonging to their mother measuring approximately more or less 9 cottahs 2 chittaks comprised under R.S. Dag No. 6644, where they were already living as a family with their parents. The property belonging to the mother was purchased by the four brothers by way of two deeds executed in the year 1985. By virtue of such purchase the four brothers became joint owners of 16 cottahs 9 chittaks of land, which they were holding jo