This appeal is focussed as against the judgment and decree dated 24.01.1994 passed by the learned District Judge, Pondicherry at Karaikal in O.S.No.48 of 1997, which is a suit for partition. For convenience sake, the parties are referred to here under according to their litigative status before the trial Court.

2. Niggard and bereft of details, the case of the plaintiffs as stood exposited from the plaint could be portrayed thus:

(i) The first plaintiff is the mother of the plaintiffs 2 and 3 and the defendant. The plaintiffs are occupying the house property bearing Door No.11, Netheeswaramkoilpathu and the defendant is occupying with his family members, the western portion of the same building bearing Municipal Door No.11/1. The said house property and the garden appurtenant thereto comprised in Ward C, Block 4 T.S.No.115 R.S.No.147/3pt, Cadastre No.300pt 78Ca; Ward C Block 4, T.S.No.117, R.S.No.147/3pt, 147/1pt, Cadastre Nos.300pt and 301 pt 04A 19Ca and Ward C, Block 4, T.S.No.118, R.S.No.147/3pt, Cadastre No.300pt. 00A 21Ca at Netheeswaram, Koilpathu is the ancestral property of the plaintiffs and the defendant.

(ii) The first plaintiffs husband Sri Pattu Gurukkal @