Chitra Venkataraman, J.

These two appeals arise out of the common judgment and decree passed in C.S.No.153 of 2002 and Tr.C.S.No.374 of 2002 dated 19. 2007. O.S.A.No.330 of 2007 arises out of C.S.No.153 of 2002. O.S.A.No.331 of 2007 arises out of Transfer C.S.No.374 of 2002. The first appellant and the second appellant in O.S.A.No.330 of 2007 are the first and the second defendants in C.S.No.153 of 2002 and the appellant in O.S.A.No.331 of 2002 is the plaintiff in Transfer C.S.No.374 of 2002.

.2. For the purpose of convenience, the parties are arrayed as per their rank in O.S.A.No.330 of 2007. The facts leading to the filing of the suits are as follows:

.Respondents-1 to 4 herein in this appeal filed a suit against the appellants in C.S.No.153 of 2002 seeking a declaration that the settlement deed dated 112. 2000 executed by the plaintiffs father J.V.A.Nehemiah was illegal, invalid, sham and nominal. They also sought for a direction to defendants-1 to 3 therein, to jointly and severally pay a sum of Rs.10,00,000/- with future interest at 24% per annum from the date of plaint till the date of realisation as damages. Apart from that, the suit relief sought for included a