1. The substantial question of law that arises for determination in this second appeal is:
"Whether a rent deed, compulsorily registerable under the Transfer of Property Act, executed by a tenant in favour of a landlord if not registered can be relied upon to establish the relationship existing between the parties?"

2. The building in this case belonged to a Namboodiri family and is now in possession of the defendant claiming to be a lessee inducted into possession in 1974 on the strength of an unregistered lease deed for a term of five years and on a monthly rent of Rs. 140/-. The rights of the Namboodiri family have been obtained by the plaintiff by assignment. The validity of that assignment is no longer in challenge. In the court, a counter part of the unregistered lease deed accepted by the Karanavan of