J U D G M E N T

K. Vinod Chandran,J The appellants are some of the respondents before the 6th Additional District Court, Ernakulam. The original petition was filed before the lower court by the 1st respondent seeking appointment of himself as the guardian of his wife and the manager of her properties. The appellants and the respondents 2 to 4 are the siblings of the wife of the 1st respondent. The wife of the 1st respondent will be referred to as ‘the subject’ and the others from their status in the original petition.

2. The petitioner was married to the subject on 24.8.1996, and they have a girl child in the marriage. It was contended by the petitioner that after marriage, his wife showed symptoms of abnormal behavior and was subjected to psychological treatment and she was diagnosed with 'paranoid schizophrenia'. He also alleged that it was a pre-marital condition and that the respondents were aware of her mental condition. The subject had to be in continuous supervision and also administered medicines, failing which, her mental condition would relapse. It was admitted that the subject was working in a private limited company and that, often, she does not have the power to convey