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2013 Supreme(Ker) 339

High Court of Kerala
M.L. JOSEPH FRANCIS, J.
A. Muraleedharan
Versus
A. Venkitesh & Another
SA.No. 1 of 2003
Decided On : 28-06-2013

Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant:T.M. Abdul Latheef, Advocate.
For the Respondents:R1 & R2, R. Azad Babu, Sabu George, Joseph Abraham, Advocates.

Headnote:Kerala Joint Hindu Family System (Abolition) Act, 1975, Section 4(1) and 4(2) - Plaintiff was entitled to get the half share as the court was justified thus section 4(2) will not apply to an undivided Hindu family ruled mithakshara law.

Judgment :

1. The second appeal is filed by the plaintiffs 1 and 2 in O.S.No.175 of 1996 on the file of principal Sub Court, Alappuzha, who were appellants 1 and 2 in A.S. No.154 of 2001 on the file of the Additional District Court, Alappuzha. Respondents 1 and 2 herein were the defendants 1 and 2 in the Original Suit and respondents 1 and 2 in the appeal.

2. O.S.175 of 1996 is a suit for partition. The plaint averments are briefly as follows: The first plaintiff is the elder brother of the first defendant. They are the children of late Anantha Shenoy. The second plaintiff is the son of the first plaintiff and the second defendant is the wife of the first defendant. The parties are governed by Hindu Mithakshara Law. The plaint schedule properties are joint Hindu family properties and plaint schedule properties are plaint schedule items 1 to 9 were allotted to the share of late Krishna Shenoy, who is the grandfather of the first plaintiff and the first defendant as per partition deed No.2820 dated 24.10.1105 M.E. of SRO, Alappuzha. Krishna Shenoy as the Manager of the joint family consisting of his sons and grandsons, was managing the property. Plaint item No.10 was acquired by him out of the joint family funds. The plaint B schedule properties are the movable properties belonging to their joint family. Krishna Shenoy died in the year 1960 and his rights devolved upon the first plaintiff, first defendant and their father Anantha Shenoy, who are the surviving co-parceners. The second plaintiff has got right over the joint family properties by birth. After coming into force of the Kerala Joint Hindu Family System (Abolition) Act, 1975, the joint tenancy was ceased and they became tenants-in-common. The wife of Anantha Shenoy, who is the mother of the first plaintiff and first defendant also died. So, the right of Anantha Shenoy devolved upon the first plaintiff and first defendant alone. Therefore, the plaintiff and the first defendant are entitled to 3/8 shares each and the second plaintiff is entitled to 2/8 shares over the plaint schedule property. Plaint item No.1 in A schedule is the family house. Plaint item No.2 in A schedule is a building separately constructed by the 1st plaintiff. The 2nd defendant was running a kids school without the knowledge and concurrence of the plaintiffs in the building in A schedule item No.1 which is injurious to that item. It is accordingly, the plaintiffs demanded partition of the property and allotment of their due share. Though the defendants initially agreed to, later they turned down. The 2nd defendants has also filed a suit for injunction against the first plaintiff, alleging that she is the tenant of the building. So, the plaintiffs brought the suit for partition and separate possession of their due share together with the future mesne profits @ Rs. 7,631/- per year to first plaintiff and at Rs. 5,087/- per year to the second plaintiff.

3. The defendants resisted the suit. They filed a joint written statement contending as follows: The suit is not maintainable. The plaint schedule properties are not joint family properties. The partition deed No.2820/1105 is not in respect of joint family properties. The property obtained by Krishna Shenoy under the partition deed of 1105 was held by him as his absolute property. The properties were never held by Krishna Shenoy as joint family property. He was not the Manager of any joint family property. Plaint item No.10 in A schedule was not acquired out of any joint family fund. It was purchased by him utilizing his own funds. Upon his demise the assets held by him inherited by his only son Anantha Shenoy. When Anantha Shenoy died, the properties devolved upon his two children Viz., first plaintiff and the first defendants. Hence the 2nd plaintiff has no right over the properties. The second plaintiff is not entitled to any share over the plaint schedule properties. There is no family house as shown as item No.1 in plaint A schedule. All the movable




















































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