BESAR KUER Vs. BISHUNDEO SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an appeal in forma pauperis by special leave from a decree of the High Court of Judicature at Patna, dated 22 December, 1939, which affirmed a decree of the District Judge at Patna dated 14 April 1938, which affirmed a decree of the First Munsif at Patna, dated 18 March 1937, and dismissed the plaintiffs' suit. The first of the two plaintiffs who instituted the suit having since died, plaintiff 2 is now the sole appellant before the board ; the defendants are the respondents. The only question for decision in the appeal is one of law, viz., whether the word "sister" in S. 2, Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment) Act (2 of 1929) includes a half-sister by the same father. Section 2 of the Act is as follows : A son's daughter, daughter's daughter, sister, and sister's son shall in the order so specified, be entitled to rank in the order of succession next after a father's father and before a father's brother : Provided that a sister's son shall not include a son adopted after the sister's death.

(2.) The plaintiffs are governed by the law of the Mitakshara. The appeal arises out of a suit instituted by the plaintiffs, the daughters of one Jaglal Singh, deceased, for a declaration that a sale deed dated 20 May 1932, executed by their mother, defendant 5 in favour of defendants 1 to 4, is not binding on them, on the ground that it is not justified by legal necessity. Admittedly, Ramasray Singh, the deceased son of Jaglal Singh, was the last full owner of the suit property. On the finding arrived at by the trial Court, and accepted by the other Courts, that the plaintiffs are only half-sisters of Ramasray Singh, the Courts in India held that they were not his heirs entitled to the property and dismissed the suit. The decisions of the Courts were based on the ruling of the Full Bench of the Allahabad High Court in 55 ALL 725,1which held that "the word 'sister' in S. 2, Hindu Law of Inheritance (Amendment) Act, 1929, does not include a half-sister, either consanguine or uterine." It is conceded that if the word 'sister' in the Act does include a half-sister by the same father, then the plaintiffs' right to institute the suit cannot be resisted.

(3.) The above decision of the Allahabad High Court and those based upon it, have been declared to be wrong recently by this board in 69 IA 1452-an appeal from the Allahabad High Court-in which it was held that the word "sister" in S. 2 of the Act includes a half-sister by the same father, though the mother be different; but cannot be extended beyond that to include one who has not the same father; and that "by parity of reasoning, ' sister's son' in the section would include the son of a half-sister." No useful purpose would be served by repeating in this judgment the various reasons given by their Lordships in that decision in support of their conclusion. It is admitted that this case falls within the above decision. However, it may be mentioned that in considering the relevant cases which have a bearing on the point, the decision of the Patna High Court, reported in AIR 1940 pat. 310,3which is the present case before the Board, was referred to by their Lordships. It follows from the decision in 69 IA 1452that the appellant is entitled to institute the suit as the heir of Ramasray Singh and that this appeal should be allowed.