Leach, C.J.

1. The question which is involved in this petition is whether the Subordinate Judge of South Malabar sitting at Palghat was right in holding that he had jurisdiction to try a suit instituted by respondent 1 against the petitioner and respondent 2. The petitioner is the husband of respondent 1 and the son of respondent 2. The petitioner and his father are members of a joint Hindu family. The petitioner married respondent 1 at Negapatam in the month of June 1929. It is respondent 1a case that at the time of her marriage she entrusted her stridhanam property to respondent 2, who was to re-deliver it to her on demand. She alleges that the property entrusted to him consisted of Rs. 1750 in cash and jewels, furniture and household utensils of the value of Rs. 3352. Respondent 1 alleges that, while she was living with her husband at Vellore, where they went to reside after leaving Negapatam, his treatment of her was so cruel that she was compelled to leave him and return to her fathers house at Palghat. At the time the suit was filed the petitioner was residing at Vellore in the North Arcot District and his father at Mayavaram in the Tanjore District. In filing the plai