(1.) This is a suit to recover a sum of money due on the footing of a mortgage dated 11 June 1921 executed by defendants 1 to 4 and the minor son of defendant 1 in favour of the plaintiff. Defendant 5 is a son of defendant 2 born subsequent to the execution of the suit mortgage. Defendant 6 is a divided cousin of defendants 1 and 2. Defendants 7 to 13 are alienees of portions of the mortgaged property from defendant 6. The father of defendants 1 and 2, Raghunatha Panda, the father of defendant 6, Lavanya Panda, and another Chandrasekara Panda, were brothers and members of a family who became divided prior to the suit mortgage. So far as defendants 1, 2, 4 and 5 are concerned, they admitted the execution of the suit mortgage. The contesting defendants were defendants 6 to 13. Their defence is that defendant 6's father purchased item 2 from P.W. 2 who himself purchased the property at a Court auction in 1914. In regard to items 1, 3 and 4 the defence is that in or about 25 August 1915 the father of defendants 1 and 2, Raghunatha Panda, and his brother Chandrasekara Panda agreed to sell the suit property to defendant 6 and also put him in possession of the same in pursuance thereof and ever since defendant 6 was in possession upto the dates of the several alienations by him, that on 6 November 1921 the sons of Chandrasekara Panda sold their half share, but defendants 1 and 2 declined to carry out the agreement entered into by their father, but nevertheless he will be entitled to retain possession of the lands on the ground of the doctrine of part performance, and the title of defendants 1 and 2 never passed to the mortgagee, and he is not entitled to claim any relief against the shares of defendants 1 and 2 in the said items. In regard to this defence three issues were raised in the case being issues 4, 5 and 6 namely: (4) Whether the mortgagors had any title to the mortgaged properties when the suit bond was executed ? (5) Is the Court sale and also the agreement averred in the written statements of defendants 6 and 12 true ? (6) Are defendants 6 to 13 necessary parties ?
(2.) In fact the only issues that were seriously pressed in the ease were the said issues. The learned District Munsif on the evidence found that defendant 6 was not the exclusive owner of item 2, and that the purchase by defendant 6's father in Court auction was not only for his benefit, but also for the benefit of his brother Chandrasekara Panda and Raghhunatha Panda. He found that the agreement was true, but he was not inclined to give effect to it as it was not free from doubt as to how far the doc-trine of part performance can be invoked against the plaintiff. In the end he gave a decree as claimed by the plaintiff.
(3.) On appeal the learned Subordinate Judge held that defendants 6 to 13, having set up a paramount title, were not necessary parties to the suit and were entitled to be exonerated from suit and therefore dismissed the suit against defendants 6 to 13. In second appeal it is contended by Mr. Ramaswami Aiyangar that the learned Judge was wrong in dismissing the suit as the trial Court had gone into the question and given a finding. Ordinarily the title of persons who set up a claim adverse to the mortgagor and mortgagee should not be investigated in a suit upon a mortgage. The joinder of such persons as stated by the Privy Council in Radha Kunwar Vs. Reoti Singh 1916 38 All 488 is irregular and leads to confusion, but it is not an inflexible or invariable rule. Such joinder does not affect the jurisdiction of the Court, though it is always desirable that if a party sets up a paramount title and does not want to redeem the property he may be struck off from the record as he takes the risk of not claiming redemption in case his title is found against in any subsequent litigation. But in each case the Court can exercise its discretion whether it will lead to inconvenience or confusion in trying the issue as to paramount title in the same suit. As observed by Venkatasubba Rao, J., in Duraisami Iyengar V/s. Varadarajulu Naidu 1928 53 MLJ 647 sometimes it may be necessary to do so. The Court is not bound to adjudicate on it, but the fact that the defendant objects to the trial of such an issue would not preclude the Court from trying it if it thinks necessary in the interests of all parties that such a trial should take place : vide In re O. Ramalakshmanna 1914 MWN 623. As pointed out in Ramasami Pillai V/s. Marimuthu Goundan 1928 Mad 764 it is very desirable that before the property is brought to sale all questions of title relating to the mortgaged property should be settled and the Court should as far as possible avoid multiplicity of litigation. The effect of joining persons who claim a title paramount need not necessarily result in a dismissal of the suit. The Court can order a separate trial.