1. This Second Appeal is directed against the judgment and decree dated 27.03.1997 passed by the learned Additional District Judge, Nagapattinam, in A.S.No.9 of 1997, whereby the judgment and decree passed by the learned Additional Subordinate Judge, Mayiladuthurai, dated 22.03.1996 in O.S.No.287 of 1991, were confirmed.

2. The appellants are defendants 1, 3, 5 and 7; the 1st respondent is the plaintiff and respondents 2 to 4 are defendants 2, 4 6 and 8. Respondents 5 to 8 are the legal representatives of the deceased 2nd respondent/2nd defendant. To avoid confusion, the parties are hereinafter described as they were arrayed in the suit.

3. The plaintiff (1st respondent herein) filed the suit in O.S.No.287 of 1991 against the defendants, numbering 7, for declaration, partition and separate possession of her share in the suit properties and also for future profits. According to the plaintiff, her father Kamaludeen had two wives and she is the only child born in 1943 through the first wife, who died in 1944. Thereafter, Kamaludeen married the sister of the plaintiff's mother as his second wife, viz., Arabia Beevi, the 1st defendant and they have six children, who are defend