CALCUTTA HIGH COURT
Sen, J.
Mon Mohan Bhattacharjee & Ors. - Appellant
Versus
Bidhu Bhusan Dutta & Ors. - Respondent
Decided On : 21-11-1938
Joint Family Property - Hindu Law - Gopala Krishnamaraju v. Venkatanarasa Raju (1914) 1 AIR Mad. 432, Sundar Bai v. Shiv Narayana (1908) 32 Bom. 81 - The court discussed the liability of joint family property for debts incurred for the marriage of a male member under Hindu law. It held that the expenses of the marriage of a Hindu male co-parcener are to be met out of the joint estate, based on the principles established in the referenced cases.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff sought a declaration of title to a property inherited from his ancestors and for ancillary reliefs. The defendants raised various defences, including the validity of sales and the share of a minor in the property.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the expenses of the marriage of a Hindu male co-parcener are to be met out of the joint estate, based on the principles established in the referenced cases. It also held that the sales in favor of the plaintiff were valid and binding on the share of the minor, and that the subsequent sales by the minor were void as the right to sue to set aside the sales was not transferable at law.
Issues: The issues included the validity of sales, the liability of joint family property for debts incurred for the marriage of a male member, and the transferability of the right to sue to set aside sales by a minor.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the principles of Hindu law regarding the liability of joint family property for marriage expenses, the validity of sales by a natural guardian of a minor, and the transferability of the right to sue to set aside sales by a minor.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, upholding the validity of the sales in favor of the plaintiff and finding that subsequent sales by the minor were void as the right to sue to set aside the sales was not transferable at law.
JUDGMENT
Sen, J. - These are three appeals by some of the defendants in three suits for the declaration of the plaintiffs' title to certain plots of land and for ancillary reliefs. The suits were numbered 949, 950 and 951 of 1934 and were tried together by the Munsif, Second Court, Krishnagar, who decreed them in favour of the plain, tiffs. On appeal, the learned Subordinate Judge upheld the decision of the trial Court making certain modifications in the decree passed with respect to Suit No. 949 of 1934. The defendants have now appealed to this Court. The appeals were taken up for hearing together and this judgment shall govern the three appeals. At the outset learned advocate for the appellants stated that he could not press the appeals arising out of suits numbered 949 and 950. They are Second Appeals Nos. 266' and 268 respectively. These appeals are accordingly dismissed with costs in favour of the appearing respondents.
2. In Suit No. 951 of 1934 out of which Second Appeal No. 267 arises the plaintiff's case briefly is as follows: There were two cousins Hari Mohan and Hari Nath who had an eight annas share each in certain property which they had inherited from their ancestors. These two cousins separated in mess and property. Hari Mohan died leaving three sons Nut Behari, Pralhad and Dhruba. Nut Behari married Malatimala who is defendant 3. He died leaving two sons Ramani Mohan and Abani Mohan who are defendants 1 and 2 respectively. Pralhad married Satya Kumari, defendant 10, and had two sons Murari and Mani Mohan who are defendants 8 and 9 respectively. Dhruba married Charusila. Dhruba predeceased his brothers leaving Charusila a childless widow. Hari Nath died leaving as his heirs two grandsons Mohini Mohan and Debendra by his daughter as his heirs. They are defendants 6 and 7 respectively. The plaintiff's suit is concerned with the eight annas share of the property which belonged to Hari Mohan. Dhruba inherited a one-third share in this property. On his death his widow Charusila sold this one-third share to defendant 10 Satya Kumari, the wife of Pralhad, for legal necessity. Nut Behari and Pralhad then separated and Nut Behari held his one-third share in the property separately. After Pralhad's death, Satya Kumari and her two sons Murari and Mani Mohan together had a two-third share in the property of Hari Mohan. The plaintiff by three kobalas Bxs. 6, 6-a and 6-b purchased certain plots of land appertaining to this two-third share. This was in Falgoon and Chaitra 1335 B.S. corresponding to Eebru-ary and March 1929, and in Baisakh 1336 B.S. corresponding to April and May 1929. The kobalas were executed by Murari on his own behalf and by Satya Kumari for self and as guardian of her minor son Mani Mohan (defendant 9). In the kobala Ex. 6 (a) it was recited that the sale was effected to raise funds to meet the current family expenses and to pay off certain debts. In the kobalas Exs. 6 and 6 (b) it is stated that the property was sold to raise money to meet the marriage expenses of Murari, the adult male son of Satya Kumari. After the sale the plaintiff possessed the land peacefully till 1340 B.S. corresponding to 1933 and 1934, when some of the paddy on the land was forcibly reaped by some of the defendants. Defendant 6 then brought a collusive and fraudulent partition suit being Title Suit No. 1 of 1931 and had a compromise decree passed therein declaring that Hari Mohan had a seven annas share in the ancestral property and Hari Nath a nine annas share therein. The plaintiff contended that this was a fraudulent decree and that in any case it was not binding on him. He accordingly sued for a declaration of his title to the property in suit, for confirmation of his possession and for ancillary reliefs.
3. Various defences were taken in the trial Court but for the purposes of this appeal the following only need be mentioned. It was contended that Hari Mohan's share was 7 annas and not 8 annas and that this was declared in a de
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