LIM CHARLIE Vs. OFFICIAL RECEIVER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal by the defendants against a decree of the High Court of Judicature at Rangoon in its Appellate Jurisdiction, dated 19 March 1931, reversing the decree of Das, J., pronounced on the Original Side of the High Court, dated 4 September 1930.

(2.) The plaintiff was appointed in a civil suit in the High Court Receiver of the house and land which is the subject matter of this suit and which is alleged to be part of the estate of the late Lim Chin Tsong. The suit was brought to recover possession of the said house and land, of which the defendants were in possession. The defendants are the son and daughter of Ma Mya May and claim to be her heirs and legal representatives. The suit was brought against the said Ma Mya May, who died during the pendency of the suit: the above- mentioned son and daughter were then placed on the record as defendants.

(3.) The question for determination was whether the property formed part of the estate of Lim Chin Tsong on his death in 1923, or whether it had become the property of Ma Mya May, who claimed to be his "secondary" wife, either (1) by gift during the lifetime of Lim Chin Tsong or (2) by title acquired by adverse possession. With regard to the first ground, there is no doubt that the title was vested in Lim Chin Tsong, when the property was conveyed to him in December, 1904. Further, there was is no registered instrument in respect of the alleged gift, and the subject matter thereof being immovable property, the provisions of S. 123, T. P. Act, were not complied with.