Sangili and Others vs Mookan

The first point taken in appeal is as to the alleged adoption of the plaintiff by his aunt Tayumuthu. As to this we agree with the District Judge that

the evidence adduced to prove the adoption is altogether unreliable. Tayumuthu was not called as a witness. According to first defendant''s own

evidence, she had been a widow five or six years at the date of the alleged adoption. It is not explained why she should have delayed so long if she

really wished to adopt a son to her late husband, and not a single question was put to show that the lady had any authority to make an adoption

either from her late husband or from his sapindas. The only witness for defendants not of the Kallar caste, the kurnam, fifth witness, deposed that

the plaintiff had lived with his father till he was turned out of the house on account of his marriage, and we agree with the District Judge that this

was the true cause of the quarrel between father and son.

The next point urged is that the District Judge was in error in deputing to the commissioner the inquiry as to what items of property were in

possession of the defendants and their title thereto. It is pointed out that the Judge virtually transferred the trial of every issue except the first issue

to a commissioner, thus investing him with much larger powers than can be legally delegated u/s 392 of the Code of Civil Procedure. On this point

we are constrained to hold that the objection must prevail. We are of opinion that ""a local investigation requisite for the purpose of elucidating any

matter in dispute"" presupposes the existence of some independent evidence on record which requires to be elucidated, and that a Court is not at

liberty u/s 392 to delegate to a commissioner the trial of any material issue which it is bound to try. This was the view taken by another Bench of

this Court in Narasimharazu v. Surianarayana Second Appeal No. 1149 of 1887, unreported and is in accordance with the view taken by the High

Court of Calcutta in Iswarchandra Das v. Jugal Krishor Chuekerbutty 4 Beng. L.R., App. 33; see also Bindabun Chunder Sirkar Ghoudhry v.

Nobin Chunder Biswas 17 W.R., 282 and Buroda Churn Bose v. Ajoodhya Ram Khan 23 W.R. 286 Earlier cases have been quoted, which go

to show that evidence taken by a commissioner may legally be treated as evidence; but in the case before us no evidence was taken by the Judge

before the issue of the commission on any issue except the first. We are of opinion that Section 392 does not authorize the wholesale delegation of

these important issues for investigation to the commissioner, and that the local investigation contemplated by that Section has reference to questions

relating to the identification of lands, their physical features, market value, and estimate of profits, but not to question of title to, and possession of,

the lands themselves.

We must, therefore, set aside the decision of the District Judge upon these issues and remand the case in order that they may be properly

determined. In so doing we may point out that the issues themselves require amendment, and that fresh issues should he framed as to the different

plaint items so as

to leave the parties no room for misconception as to the burden of proof. With regard to items which are admitted to be family property, the only

question can be as to plaintiff''s proportionate share. Other items are claimed as belonging to the family, the possession and existence of which first

defendant denies As to these the burden would be on plaintiff. Then again there are properties of which first defendant admits the possession, but

alleges to be self-acquired. As to these the onus is on him. Proper issues have to be framed with reference to the allegations in the written

statement. The plaintiff must prove subsisting outstanding debts due to the family, and we observe that it is alleged one debt due to the family has

been discharged.

We observe also that the Judge decreed partition in jewels of the value of Rs. 150 merely on the ground that first defendant''s wives were

wearing some of that value. That reason is manifestly insufficient when the jewels worn by the ladies are alleged to be their stridhanam.

The District Judge has made no provision for debts due by the family. It is admitted on both sides that he was also in error in decreeing mesne

profits for six years before suit when only mesne profits from date of suit were prayed for in the plaint.

With reference to Civil Miscellaneous Petition No. 170 of 1892, we are of opinion that the proportionate share to be decreed to plaintiff must

be that to which he is entitled on the date of the final decree. No final decree has yet been passed, since no issue except the first has been tried. As

the father has died during the pendency of these proceedings, the plaintiff is apparently at the present moment entitled to one-fourth share. We

must set aside the decrees of the Court below in both appeals and remand the suit in order that the District Judge may frame and try fresh issues

and after recording findings on them pass a fresh decree for partition. The costs hitherto incurred will be provided for in the final decree.