1. This second appeal filed by the original defendant No. 1 Ramchandra Ganpati Salunke raises an important question of Hindu Law. Respondent No. 1 Rajaram is the plaintiff. Respondent No. 2 Muktabai who was original defendant No. 2 died pending the second appeal and her adopted son Rajaram who is respondent No. 1 is brought on record as her heir. Respondent No. 3 Ganpati is original defendant No. 3.

2. Defendant No. 2 Muktabai adopted the plaintiff Rajaram on August 3, 1953. Her husband Bapu died in the year 1947. The parties to the suit are very closely related to each other, Rajaram's natural father Tukaram is the full brother of defendant No. 1 Ramchandra. Tukaram and Ramchandra are the sons of Ganpati, defendant No. 3, and his wife Chandrabai. This Chandrabai is the daughter of Sakharam who is the brother of Muktabai's husband Bapu. Ganpati defendant No. 3, is the son of Manjabai who was the sister of Bapu and Sakharam. The relationship between the parti