M.CHOCKALINGAM, J.

The defendants are the appellants herein.

2. This appeal suit has been directed against the judgment and decree of the learned III Additional Subordinate Judge, Coimbatore, under which a preliminary decree was granted in favour of the respondent-plaintiff.

3. The case of the plaintiff is as follows:

The plaintiff is the son of the first defendant. The first defendant has got a daughter by name Kalamani. The marriage between the first defendant and the mother of the plaintiff Karnaiammal was held on 24.11.66. The first defendant compelled the plaintiff's mother to part with her jewels that were presented to her at the time of marriage, and she sold the same and was keeping the cash with her. The first defendant wanted to purchase lorries, and he demanded money from the mother of the plaintiff. Believing his words, she handed over the same. Subsequently, the first defendant sold the lorries and appropriated the same. The plaintiff's mother used to demand and wanted her husband to purchase jewels, but the first defendant was postponing the same. The first defendant took hostile attitude against the plaintiff. He did not educate him properly, and in fact, he