SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

1967 Supreme(Online)(Ker) 1

KERALA HIGH COURT
A.M. Shaffique, J
Pandara Mukundan v. Pandara Kumaran and Others
Civil Revision Petition 91 of 1962



Advocates:
For the Petitioner:

The court ruled that applications for pauperism must not unite distinct causes of action, especially when some are barred by limitation.

Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order 33 - The application to sue as a pauper was dismissed; the court held it is within its jurisdiction to examine evidence regarding the pauper status and to determine whether it is barred by limitation. (Paras 8, 9, 10, 11)

(B) Limitation - The court found that the claim of the petitioner regarding B Schedule items is barred by limitation and can be dismissed. The court highlighted that different causes of action pertaining to the properties should not be united in one application for pauperism. (Paras 12, 14, 16)

Facts of the case:
The petitioner is a member of a tarwad seeking partition against respondents who claim exclusive rights through wills. The claim of property was challenged on grounds of limitation and merits.

Findings of Court:
The court confirmed that the learned Subordinate Judge acted correctly by viewing the petition as having separate causes of action and dismissing the application for certain claims based on limitations.

Issues: The key issues addressed were the jurisdiction regarding pauper applications and the validity of claims based on limitations.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the application to sue has to disclose a right under which the petitioner claims and that uniting separate causes of action, especially in matters barred by limitation, is impermissible.

Result: Civil Revision Petition dismissed.

1 The petitioner in Original Petition 91 of 1962 on the file of the Subordinate Judge's Court, Tellicherry, is the revision petitioner. The application filed by him under O.33, R.1, CPC for permission to sue as a pauper was dismissed by the learned Subordinate Judge in respect of his claim for partition of B schedule items 2 onwards against respondents 19 and 20 and the petitioner was directed to take back the petition for presentation to the proper court to enforce his relief if any in respect of B Schedule item 1. The civil revision petition is directed against the said order of the court below.

2 Respondents 1 to 18 and the petitioner are members of a marumakkathayam tarwad known as Pandara Tarwad and their common ancestress is one Choyichi. A schedule to the petition is the genealogy showing the relationship of the petitioner and respondents 1 to 18. B schedule item 1 is a leasehold right in favour of the pandara tarwad. B schedule items 2 onwards belonged to Murdoc Brown a Scotchman and on his death intestate his son Francis Carnac Brown inherited the estate. It is alleged by the petitioner, that Francis Carnac Brown married Manni, one of the daughters of Choyichi, and Manni had a son through Francis Carnac Brown by name Henry Carnac Brown. It is further alleged that Henry Carnac Brown became insane and was in the Madras Mental Hospital for some years and he died on 23rd April, 1941. Murdoc Brown and Jane Brown who are the other children of Francis Carnac Brown predeceased Henry Carnac Brown and the entire estate of Francis Carnac Brown devolved on Henry Carnac Brown. Since Henry Carnac Brown died intestate the entire estate devolved on the tarwad of Manni namely the Pandara tarwad. According to the petitioner, respondents 19 and 20 who are in management of the estate have created certain documents claiming right in themselves. The petitioner therefore prays for partition and recovery of 1/19th share in the B schedule items.

3 On notice to the State it was reported that the petitioner is not possessed of any properties. No objection was raised by j respondents 1 to 18 regarding the right of the petitioner to claim a share in the B schedule properties. But respondents 19 and 20 I raised objections to the claim of the petitioner for a share in B schedule items 2 onwards. Respondents 19 and 20 contend that these items belong to them absolutely and the members of the Pandara tarwad including the petitioner have no right to them According to respondents 19 and 20, Francis Carnac Brown to whom the estate belonged executed Ext. B 1 will dated 9-9-1868 bequeathing the properties to his daughter Jane Brown and his sons Henry Carnac Brown and Murdoc Brown. Since Murdoc Brown died unmarried and intestate, his interest ia the estate devolved on the other two legatees who became joint owners of the properties. The will was probated by the Madras High Court and Ext. B 2 dated 20-1-1869 is the certified copy of the probate.

4 Jane Brown executed a will dated 4-10-1906 bequeathing her half share in favour of Jessie Clara Brown Maria Brown and Robert Ashby Brown. Ext. B 30 shows that the said will was probated and letters of administration were issued to Robert Ashby Brown in respect of that will on 14-2-1907 by the District Judge of North Malabar.

5 Jessie Clara Brown and Maria Brown executed wills bequeathing their interest in the estate to Robert Ashby Brown. Ext B 4 dated 12-3-1909 is the certified copy of the will executed by Jessie Clara Brown. Exts. B 5 and B 6 prove that the wills executed by Jessie Clara Brown and Maria Brown were Probated in 0. P. 861 of 1915 and O. P. 160 of 1920 on the file of the District Court of North Malabar. It will thus be seen that the entire estate which belonged to Francis Carnac Brown became vested in Robert Ashby Brown and Henry Carnac Brown.

6 Robert Ashby Brown executed a will on 14-7-1930 and a codicil on 23-7-1930. Ext. B 7 is the copy of the will and the codicil. This will was also probated and Ext












































Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top