Mookerjee, J. - (1.) Premises No. 115|6, Cornwallis Street was claimed by the plaintiffs respondents to have belonged to the estate of one Mahendra Nath Mukherjee and as such they were entitled to a declaration of their title and possession.
(2.) For a proper appreciation of the conflicting claims reference may conveniently be made to the following genealogical table:
(3.) Premises No. 115, Cornwalis Street, of which the property in suit admittedly forms a part, originally belonged to one Rakhamoni, who conveyed her right, title and interest in favour of Sarat Kumari, wife of Mahendra Nath on June 22, 1883, when Mahendra was still alive. The latter died on November 27, 1889. One of the principal questions in issue is whether the purchase in the name of Sarat Kumari was by her and for her own benefit or by Mahendra in the benami of his wife. Even if it be found that the; purchase was by Mahendra in the name of his wife another question arises for decision as to whether the present plaintiffs were bonafide purchasers for value.;