S. Nainar Sundaram, J.

1. In this appeal the plaintiffs in O.S. No. 51 of 1973 on the file of the Subordinate Judge of Tiruchirapalli, are the appellants. Defendants 1 to 9 in the suit have been arrayed as respondents in this appeal. The 1st respondent died and respondents 2 to 7 have been recorded as his legal representatives. The 1st defendant was the father and defendants 2 to 4 are the sons and defendants 5 to 7 are the daughters. There was another son by name Sivasankaran and he died in testate on 10-8-1970. The 1st plaintiff is his widow and plaintiffs 2 and 3 are his daughters. That there was a joint family constituted of the first defendant, defendants 2 to 4 and the deceased Sivasankaran, was not in dispute. Taking into consideration the nature of the controversy raised in this appeal as well as the cross-objections filed by the fourth respondent-the fourth defendant in the suit, it is not necessary to delineate and deal with all the aspects of the case.

2. The suit by the plaintiffs was one for partition and separate possession of one-fifth share in the properties set out in schedules A and B to the plaint, and for other reliefs. The Court below granted the plaintif