Krishnan, J.

1. This is an appeal from the decree of the District Judge of Godavari in O.S. No. 34 of 1919 on his file which was a suit brought by the respondent the Maharajah of Pittapuram to have it declared that the adoption of the 2nd defendant by the 1st defendant, the widow of Venkata Rao, her deceased husband, is invalid and not binding on the plaintiff and not affecting his rights in any way. The suit was decreed in plaintiffs favour by the District Judge and hence the appeal to us by the 2nd defendant. The 1st defendant it may be mentioned died pending the appeal and in her place Surya Prakasa Rao has been brought on the record provisionally as the 3rd respondent.

2. The genealogical table given below shows the relationship of the parties concerned in this litigation and will serve to elucidate some of the questions raised:

(1) NILADRI RAO

______________________________|____________________________ | | | (2) Surya Rao, (3) Lakshmi Venkayamma. (4) Venkat Rao, died 1850, died Decem- (no issue). ber 1869 |_________________ |______ ____________________|_______________________________________ | | | | | | (5) Niladri Rao, (6) Gangadhara (7) Surya (8) Venkata Rao, | died 1854