Defendants 1 to 5 and 7, who had lost in the Courts below are the appellants in this second appeal, which arises out of a suit instituted by the first respondent herein tor recovery of possession of the suit property and for recovery of a sum of Rs. 1,290 towards past mesne profits and also for future mesne profits. The suit properties according to the first respondent, were the self-acquired properties of one Nataraja Pillai, his paternal grandfather. Nataraja Pillai, executed a settlement deed on 2nd March, 1951, in respect of the suit properties giving a life estate in favour of his wife Ponnukkannu Achi and the vested remainder in favour of the first respondent. The first respondent, at the time of the settlement, was only a child, aged about 4 months. According to the terms of the settlement deed, Ponnukkannu is to have a life estate without any powers of alienation. While so, Ponnukkannu Achi purporting to act as guardian of the then minor first respondent and on her own behalf, sold the suit properties to one Shanmugham Pillai on 15th July, 195 7. It was claimed by the first respondent that the said sale was invalid so far as his right in the property is concerned as