RAM SARUP Vs. MTKATAULA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is a defendant's appeal under Section 10 of the Letters Patent. The suit was for a declaration that the plaintiffs as members of a joint Hindu family have a right to two-thirds of the property in dispute detailed in the plaint and are entitled to get mutation of names effected in the revenue Court in their favour. There was also an alternative relief for possession in case they were found to be out of possession. The claim was contested by the defendants on the ground that the family had been separate at the time when Daulat Singh died. The Court of first instance came to the conclusion that the family was joint at the time of his death and did not think it necessary to consider whether it wa3 separate or joint at the time when the suit was instituted. The learned District Judge, however, came to the conclusion that the ordinary presumption of jointness had not been rebutted by any evidence at all and that really there was no evidence of separation at all.

(2.) Beading his judgment there can be no doubt that he came to the conclusion that the family continued to be joint till the date of the institution of the suit. Nevertheless he affirmed the decree of the first Court granting the plaintiffs a declaration that they were entitled to a two-thirds share in the property in dispute.

(3.) On appeal that decree has been affirmed by a learned Judge of this Court. In the judgment of the learned Judge it has been assumed that there had been no separation amongst the descendants of the three brothers and that the plaintiffs as members of a joint Hindu family are asking for a declaration that they had a right to the property standing in the name of Mt. Sobha to the extent of a two- thirds share. The learned Judge also thought that the Courts below had found that the plaintiffs and defendants were members of a joint Hindu family.