Judgment

VENKATARAMA AYYAR, J.:

This appeal arise out of a suit for partition instituted by the appellant in the court of the Civil Judge, Senior Division, Bijapur. The relationship of the parties will appear from the following genealogical table :

Siddopant and Krishnarao were members of joint undivided family. Krishnarao died in 1897 leaving behind a widow, Rukminibai, who is the sixth defendant in the suit, Siddopant died in 1899 leaving surviving his son, Gundo who died in 1901 leaving behind a widow, Lakshmibai, who is the fifth defendant. On 16-12-1901 Lakshmibai adopted Devji, who died on 6-5-1935 leaving three sons, defendants 1 to 3, and a widow, Akkubai, the fourth defendant. On 26-4-1944 Rukminibai adopted the plaintiff, and on 29-6-1944 he instituted the present suit for partition claiming half share in the family properties.

2. Siddopant and Krishnarao represented one branch of a Kulkarni family and were entitled for their share of the Watan lands, to the whole of S. No. 138 and a half share in S. Nos. 133 and 136 in the village of Ukamnal and a half share in S. Nos. 163, 164 and 168 in the village of Katakanhalli. The other branch was represented by Swamirao, who was ent