V.R. Krishna Iyer, J.

1. The facts which have led up to these three revision petitions may be briefly set out. There were three suits for injunction against trespass, O. S. No. 292 of 1960 O. S. No. 342 of 1961 and O. S. No. 177 of 1962, all of which were instituted by the Valiya Thampuratti of the Ayiranazhi Kovilagom to which the Malavaram, which is the subject matter of the suits, belonged. (C. R. P. No. 450 of 1967 relates to I.A. No. 837 of 1966 in O. S. No. 292 of 1906, C. R. P. No. 495 of 1967 relates to I. A. No. 839/66 in O. S. No. 177/62 and C. R. P. No. 449/67 relates to I. A. No. 838 of 1966 in O. S. No. 342 of 1961). In each suit junior members of the plaintiff's Kovilagom applied to get themselves impleaded and the defendants, who are joint proprietors of the Kerala Estate and claim ownership and possession of the suit properties, applied for recording of a compromise and decree in terms thereof.

2. The plaintiff's suits were for the protection of the forests belonging to the family known as Chenkode Malavaram alias Kalikavu Malavaram. The defendants disputed the Kovilagom's right and claimed the suit properties as included in their Kerala Estate. During the pende