(1.) This second appeal is in a suit instituted in the Malabar area in 1948. Therefore, by reason of S.87(2) of Madras Act XIV of 1955 and S.87(2) of Kerala Act 10 of 1960, the court fee payable on the memorandum of appeal is governed by the provisions of the Court Fees Act, 1870 as in force in Madras in 1948. The suit is for partition, but the subject matter in dispute in the appeal is capable of being valued in terms of money and has, indeed, been valued at Rs. 50,000 and odd in the memorandum of appeal. The question is whether the court fee payable is an ad valerom fee under Art.1 of Schedule I of the Court Fees Act, 1870 as amended in Madras, or a fixed fee under Art.17-B of Schedule II.
(2.) The first column of Art.1 of Schedule I runs as follows: "Plaint or written statement pleading a set off or counter claim or memorandum of appeal (not otherwise provided for in this Act) presented to any Civil or Revenue Court. ........."
(3.) It is said that Art.1 of Schedule I is a general provision while Art.17-B of Schedule II is a special provision and that in cases where the latter applies it excludes the application of the former. I see little substance in this argument, for, it seems to me that both the articles are equally general or equally special. While Art.1 of Schedule I provides for cases where the subject matter in dispute is capable of being valued in money, Art.17-B of Schedule II provides for cases where it is not capable of being so valued.