1. This appeal by special leave is directed against the concurrent; orders of the Courts below allowing the Official Receiver's application under S.35 of Travancore Regulation VIII of 1090 (=1915), to which we shall refer in the course of this judgment as the Insolvency Regulation, for annulling the - usufructuary mortgage (Ext. I) for Rs. 75,000 dated August 18,1924, executed by a number of persons who may now be conveniently described as the insolvents. The main question for determination in this appeal on behalf of the transferee is whether the transaction in his favour is within the third exception to S.35 aforesaid. (In this judgment we shall use the dates with reference to the Gregorian Calendar equivalent to the dates maintained under the Malayalam Calendar).

2. In order to appreciate the arguments in this appeal it is necessary to state the following facts. Koya Kunju was a flourishing merchant at Quilon carrying on trade in piece goods, yarn, provisions etc. He died in or about the year 1921 leaving him surviving his widow, two sons and two daughters, who jointly carried on the ancestral business through the eldest son under a power of attorney. They added to th