LAKSHMIAMMAL Vs. SUNDARARAJA AIYANGAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The case was tried and has been argued here with reference only to Exhibit I and not to the alleged agreement of May 1908; and the first point taken is that plaintiff who was not a party to Exhibit I cannot sue on it.

(2.) Schedule E of Exhibit I, a partition-deed in plaintiff s family, contains the arrangements made for the performance of her nuptial marriage. It is headed "amount due to plaintiff" and sets out that Rs. 100 is to be given by each of the branches, between which the property is to be divided, defendants Nos. 1 and 2 taking one share and two sons of first defendant by his first wife the other two.

(3.) Plaintiff s right to sue is denied mainly on the grounds given for the decision in Iswaram Pillai v. Taregan (1915) I.L.R., 38 Mad., 758; s.c, 26 M.L.J., 127. But that case can be distinguished from the present in two ways: Firstly, there was no question in it of a family settlement. In Rajagopalaraju v. Radhayya , one was in question and it was held that a sister could sue to enforce a provision made for her under it in pursuance of what is referred to as a moral duty. Secondly, in Iswaram Pillai v. Taregan (1915) I.L.R., 38 Mad. 753; s.o., 26 M.L.J., 127, the finding was against the creation of any trust in the plaintiff s favour, because "there was no property transferred to the defendants, of which they agreed to become trustees, but all they agreed to do was to allocate a certain sum in their hands and to make that sum the trust fund." Here, however, Exhibit I transferred the properties divided under it from the joint ownership of the family to the several ownership of its members. Though their shares were not charged in plaintiff s favour, they were, by mutual agreement, accepted, subject to an obligation to pay her. It is not alleged that Exhibit I has not had effect or that defendants have freed themselves from the burden imposed by it by any repudiation of it or the benefit) it conferred. The trust in the present case has therefore been constituted completely. In these circumstances defendants were held liable rightly.