P. SATHASIVAM, J.

Plaintiff in O.S. No. 20 of 1983 on the file of Subordinate Judge, Pattukottai is the appellant in the above appeal. He filed the said suit for partition and separate possession of his 1/9th share. By judgment and decree dated 4-5-1985, the learned Subordinate Judge dismissed the suit. Aggrieved by the said dismissal, the unsuccessful plaintiff has filed the present appeal before this Court.

2. The case of the plaintiff as seen from the amended plaint is brifely stated hereunder :-

Defendants 1, 5 and 8 are brothers and sons of one A.R. Manickam Chettiar. Defendants 6 and 7 are the sons of 5th defendant. The plaintiff and the 9th defendant are the sons of 8th defendant. All the above said persons constitute a Hindu Joint family. A.R. Manickam Chettiar was a leading businessman of Madukkur. Even during his life time, his 3 sons were doing business on behalf of their family. They acquired vast extent of lands and houses. The members of the family were doing business on behalf of the joint family, either in their individual names or in the names of two or three persons among them. The various business enterprises did not arise out of a contract but has been