Dated this the 31^st day of January, 2026 JUDGMENT This appeal is preferred by the Plaintiff, who is no more, and one of the legal heirs is prosecuting the appeal. Before this Court proceeds to consider the case on merits, it is imperative for this Court to give certain intervening developments. During the pendency of the appeal, the sole appellant died and his two daughters were impleaded as additional appellants 2 and 3. While so, it is brought to the notice of this Court by the learned counsel for the respondents that the appellants 2 and 3 have entered into an inter se partition and the 3^rd appellant had informed the learned counsel for the respondents that she is not interested in prosecuting the appeal further. Accordingly, the copy of the partition deed was produced before this Court. Later, the

2^nd appellant filed an application to transpose the 3^rd appellant as the 3^rd respondent in the appeal. Notice was ordered, but none appeared. Accordingly, by the Order dated 17.11.2025, this Court allowed the application for transposition and transposed the 2^nd appellant as the 3^rd respondent in the appeal and thereafter, the appeal was proceeded further. While so, on 24.01.2026, a me