These two second appeals arise out of two suits tried together and disposed of by a common judgment in the trial Court and by a common judgment by the lower appellate Court. The only point which survives for decision relates to the question whether the first plaintiff is the absolute owner of the suit properties or in any event whether her rights in the properties have become enlarged into an absolute estate by reason of section 14 (1) of the Hindu Succession Act (XXX of 1956) (hereinafter referred to as the Act).

2. The facts of the case are as follows: (Note: For the sake of convenience, the parties are referred to in the judgment as they are arrayed in the suit O.S. No. 366 of 1963). The first plaintiff is Nallammal, and her husband Palanisami Gounder and one Nallasamy Gounder (senior) were step-brothers. The first plaintiff’s husband died in 1936, leaving behind him his widow, Nallammal (first plaintiff) and a child called Nallaswamy Gounder (junior) who died in 1942. Nallasamy senior died on nth March, 1949, leaving behind him his widow, the first defendant, and two sons (defendants 2 and 3). The second plaintiff is the son-in-law of the first plaintiff, and he claim