JUDGMENT : - The preliminary decree in this suit defining the shares for the partition of the properties among the heirs of Alak Narayan, was issued on 11-9-1950.* There was no dispute either on the question who were the heirs, or on the question, what their shares were. The two sons of Alak Narayan and their mother Rani Vidyavathi were the heirs and each was entitled to a third of the partible properties of the joint family of which they were members along with Alak Narayan. It would be convenient to refer to the two sons in the rest of this judgment as the plaintiff and defendant 1 and their mother, the second defendant in this suit, will be referred to by her name.

* For earlier proceedings see AIR 1954 Mad 19.

2. When the determination of the assets of the joint family available for partition was taken up, a list of 106 items of immoveable properties was filed into court, with reference to which the parties formulated their claims and objections. The figure 106 may be misleading, because sub-items were enumerated under many of the 106 items. The question of the partition of the jewels also was taken up. Most of the jewels were in the Thoshakhana within the fort of Vizian