MOHAMMED MOHIDEEN Vs. MUTHUKUMARA THEVAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE second plaintiff in O. S. No. 552 of 1990 on the file of the District Munsif Court, pattukottai is the appellant herein. THE second respondent herein filed the said suit for declaration of his title and for consequential injunction restraining the appellant herein as well as the second respondent herein, from interfering with their peaceful possession. THE trial court by its judgment and decree dated 21. 3. 1991 has dismissed the suit. As against this decree, the appellant as well as the second respondent herein filed the appeal in A. S. No. 41 of 1991 on the file of the Sub Court , pattukottai. THE lower appellate court also concurred with the findings of the trial court and dismissed the appeal. Aggrieved by the same the present second appeal has been filed by the appellant herein. Before the lower appellate court the only issue argued seems to be with regard to the genuineness of the will ex. B-4. It is the contribution of the learned counsel appearing for the appellant that when both the attestors have died, the Will can be proved only by letting in evidence to prove the handwriting of the testator. In this case, the defendant has not let in any evidence with regard to the attestation of the will by examining anyone who is familiar. With the signature or the handwriting of the attesting witnesses. Sec. 69 of the Evidence Act has laid down the procedure tor prove a Will when the attesting witnesses are not available. It clearly states that the Will can be proved by examining one of the one attesting witnesses atleast and if none of the attesting witnesses are available, to speak about the signature of the person executing person has to establish that the signature of the person executing the document is in the handwriting of that person. In this case, the defendant had examined D. W. 2 one soundararajan, who has categorically stated that he is the scribe of the Will and after he wrote the Will, in his presence the testator had read the Will and thereafter signed the same and the attesting witnesses have also signed the same. This evidence has been accepted by both the courts below to find the genuineness of the Will.

(2.) SEC. 69 of the Evidence Act requires the person to prove that the signature of the executor is in his handwriting and the defendant has let in evidence by examining D. W. 2, that the executor has signed the Will in his presence and the attesting witnesses have also signed in his presence. This evidence has not been challenged in the cross-examination and as such the courts below have accepted this evidence and found that the Will is genuine. I do not find any irregularity in the finding of both the courts below with regard to the genuineness of the Will.