A guardian-ad-litem can be appointed for a deaf-mute who is mentally infirm and incapable of protecting his interests when suing or being sued.

ORDER :- This is a civil revision petition which is sought to be filed against I.A. No. 1685 of 1952 in O.S. No. 586 of 1950 on the file of the District Munsif of Erode.

2. The facts are : O.S. No. 586 of 1950 has been filed by one Karuppa Goundan against Umai Malaya Goundan and three others. This Umai Malaya Goundan is a deaf-mute. The plaintiff filed an application for the appointment of a guardian-ad-litem under O. 32, rule 15 C.P.C. It was resisted on the ground that Umai Malaya Goundan has been leading a family life with a wife and child and that he is eking out his livelihood by grazing cattle and doing farm work and that he is quite capable of managing his family affairs and that therefore a guardian-ad-litem need not be appointed.

On the other hand, the elaborate enquiry held by the learned District Munsif revealed two sets of facts. In regard to the properties of this Umai Malaya Goundan several documents have been executed on his behalf by a guardian or his wife has been associated with the conveyances along with him. Ex. A 1 dated 25-2-1924 is a registration copy of maintenance deed by Angammal as guardian of Umai Malaya Goundan to Varusaiyammal. Ex. A. 2 dated 25-2-1924 is registration copy of a release deed by Vanjiyammal to Angammal as guardian of Umai Malaya Goundan. Ex. A. 3 dated 20-6-1930 is registration copy of a usufructuary mortgage deed by Malaya Goundan and his wife Nanjakkal to Marappa Goundan and another for Rs. 1000. Ex. A. 4 dated 2-9-1930 is registration copy of a sale deed by Nanjakkal on her behalf and as guardian of her husband Umai Malaya Goundan to chellappa Goundan for Rs. 2000. Ex. A. 5 dated 21-8-1942 is registration copy of a sale deed by Nanjakkal on her behalf and as guardian of Umai Malaya, Goundan to Kaliappa Goundan. Ex. B. 3 dated 19-3-1951 is a registration sale deed by Umai Malaya Goundan and his wife to Palanisami Gounder for Rs. 1500.

The only document which has been executed by Umai Malaya Goundan without a guardian or being associated with his wife is Ex. B. 1 dated 25-2-1927 which is registration copy of a lease deed between Umai Malaya Goundan and Malaya Goundan and another for five years. So, between 1924 and 1951 whenever a document is executed in regard to the properties of this deaf-mute it is by some one purporting to act as his guardian or being associated with him like his wife. Secondly the evidence of the three witnesses, P.Ws. 1 to 3 establishes that this Umai Malaya Goundan is a deaf-mute who is mentally infirm and whom no one else excepting his wife could understand.

The learned District Munsif has carefully marshalled all these facts in paragraph 2 of his order which need not be repeated. He came to the conclusion that the evidence of these three people showed that he cannot be understood by ordinary persons who are not acquainted with him and that he is not capable of understanding such persons. Therefore, he ordered the appointment of a guardian-ad-litem and inasmuch as this deaf-mutes wife was unwilling to act as his guardian he directed the appointment of a court guardian.

3. The point taken in revision is that the lower court had no jurisdiction to appoint a guardian-ad-litem in the case of a deaf-mute who has been leading a family life with his wife and children and eking his livelihood by grazing cattle.

4. Order 32 rule 15 C.P.C. corresponds to S. 463 of the Civil P.C. 1882, with some additions and alterations. The old section is reproduced below to observe the changes introduced by the present rule :

"The provisions contained in Ss. 440 to 462 (both inclusive) shall mutatis mutandis apply in the case of persons of unsound mind adjudged to be so under Act No. 35 of 1858, or under any other law for the time being in force."

It would appear on a comparison that the words "and to persons who though not so adjudged are found by the court on enquiry by reason of unsoundness of mind or mental infirmity, to be incapable of protecting their interests when suing o