R. SUBBIAH, J.

1. This appeal has been filed by the appellants as against the judgment and decree dated 30.08.2011 passed by the learned Additional District Judge (Fast Track Court No.1), Salem, dismissing the suit in O.S.No.43 of 2007 filed by them for passing preliminary decree for partition of the suit schedule properties.

2. The appellants herein are the plaintiffs and the respondents herein are the defendants before the Trial Court. The appellants/plaintiffs are the legal heirs of one Venugopal Chettiar who were born through his first wife Kannammal. The 7th respondent/7th defendant is the second wife of the said Venugopal Chettiar and the respondents 1 to 6/defendants 1 to 6 are the children of the said Venugopal Chettiar born through his second wife - 7th respondent/7th defendant. For the sake of convenience, hereinafter the parties will be referred to as the plaintiffs and the defendants.

3. The brief facts of the case of the plaintiffs, inter alia, are as follows_

3-1.It is the case of the plaintiffs that one Rangasamy Chettiar is the common ancestor of the plaintiffs and the defendants. The wife of the said Rangasamy Chettiar was one Lakshmi Ammal. The said Rangasam