JUDGEMENT
RASTOGI,J. -
(1.) The instant appeal is directed against the judgment of the High Court of Karnataka dismissing RFA No. 347/1998
holding that the appellants are not entitled to claim any
share in the joint family properties. The appellants/plaintiffs
filed a suit on 16.1.1976 for 1/10 th share in the suit
properties described in the schedule to the plaint as 'A' to 'H'.
The learned trial Court decreed the suit declaring that the
second plaintiff (since first plaintiff died on 7.7.1978 leaving
behind daughter) Smt. Nagamma is entitled for 1/10 th share
of joint family properties in the plaint which are scheduled
Signature Not Verified properties 'A' to 'E' and the properties in the plaint scheduled.
Reason:
'F' & 'G' were held to be the self acquired properties of the
1 testator, and property 'H' was declared as the exclusive
property of the Smt. K.C. Saroja. The judgment and decree of
the trial Court came to be challenged in the regular first
appeal before the High Court by the present appellants in
RFA No. 347/1998 and RFA No. 922/2001 was filed by the
defendants respondents against the self same impugned
judgment. The High Court after hearing the parties and on
reappraisal of the evidence while affirming the finding of fact
in reference to the registered Will Exhibit D2 dated 16.6.1962
of the testator held that the respondents have established the
due execution of the Will as required under Section 68 of the
Evidence Act. But while answering the question in reference
to the 1/10th share of the plaintiff no.2 in the undivided share
of the testator in the joint family properties schedule 'A' to 'E',
took note of Section 30 read with explanation of the Hindu
Succession Act , 1956 and held that a coparcener derives a
right to dispose of his undivided share in Mitakshara joint
family property by "Will" or any testamentary disposition i.e.
by virtue of law and accordingly reversed the finding recorded
by the learned trial Court holding 1/10th share of the
in 'A' to 'E'.
(2.) Mr. Girish Ananthamurthy, learned counsel for the appellants has tried to persuade this Court that the finding
which has been recorded in reference to execution of the Will
of the testator Exhibit D2 dated 16.6.1962 appears to be
suspicious for the reasons that the testator Patel Hanume
Gowda died on 6.2.1965 and the registered Will Exhibit D2
dated 16.6.1962 has not seen the light of the day until filing
of the suit by the present appellants/plaintiffs on 16.1.1976
and the testator was unwell during the period the Exhibit D2
was scribed and further submitted that there appears no
reason/justification for the testator to have a complete
exclusion of one branch of the family i.e. the daughter from
his second marriage from the schedule of properties of the
testator falling in schedule 'A' to 'H' which indisputedly was
either the joint family property or the self acquired property
of the testator.
(3.) Learned counsel for the appellants further submits that even if the testator could have bequeathed his share in the
undivided joint family properties through a registered Will
appellants/plaintiffs as a member of the family in the joint
family properties could not have been divested and that is an
apparent error which has been committed by the High Court
and needs interference of this Court.;
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