Siva Subramaniam, J.

1. The plaintiff, who was partly successful in O.S. No. 76 of 1978 on the file of the Sub-Court, Udamalpet, is the appellant in this appeal. The respondents herein are the defendants in the suit.

2. The material allegations in the plaint are as follows: The plaintiff, who is the appellant herein, is the only son of his father Kuppuswamy Gounder and his mother the first respondent herein. Defendants 2 to 5, who are respondents 2 to 5 herein, ard his sisters. The appellant and his father Kuppuswamy Gounder were members of a joint family for which his father was the joint family manager. His father died on 6-7-1977 leaving behind the appellant and the respondents as his legal representatives. There was no partition during his lifetime. The properties described in the second schedule of the plaint belonged to the joint family consisting of the appellant and his father Kuppusamy Gounder. Respondents 2 to 5 got married and they have settled in different places. After the death of Kuppusamy Gounder, the respondents also became entitled to a share in the plaint schedule properties as per law. The debts payable by the family to the tune of Rs. 24,000 are described