LAXMIDAS GOCULDAS DOSSA Vs. ISMAIL GAFOOR KASSUM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) One Gaffoor Cassum died on or about February 25, 1922 leaving two sons Ismail and Ibrahim, a widow and a daughter. Ismail obtained Letters of, Administration to the estate of Gaffoor on December 19, 1922, under Section 4 of the Probate and Administration Act. The estate of Gaffoor, therefore, was vested in him. It is true, under Mahomedan law in the absence of any Letters of Administration being granted, the estate vests in the heirs. But, I think that the statutory vesting under the Probate and Administration Act must take effect in substitution for the vesting In the heirs which exists between the death of the deceased and the grant of the Letters.

(2.) Gaffoor was a tenant of certain stables, rent of which was in arrears at his death. Ismail continued the business, and the arrears of rent continued, with the result that in August 1923, a settlement was arrived at by which Ismail agreed to pay rent in all Rs. 13,951 up to August 6, 1923, which included the rent that was in arrears at the date of Gaffoor's death.

(3.) Eventually, the plaintiff filed a suit against Ismail in which a decree was passed on December 18, 1923, for Rs. 10,951-11-0. As Ismail did not pay this amount, the plaintiff succeeded in getting from Ismail and the other heirs of the deceased Gaffoor a third mortgage in his favour of property situated in Doctor Street by a mortgage dated February 25, 1924. The property was subject to prior mortgages, and was sold in September 1924 at the instance of the first mortgagee. After paying the two prior mortgages, about Rs. 13,000 remained in the hands of the solicitors of, the first mortgagee to satisfy the third mortgage.