Kerala High Court
Thanka vs Vijayalakshmi on 10 July, 2025
RFA 619/2016
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.PRATHEEP KUMAR
THURSDAY, THE 10TH DAY OF JULY 2025 / 19TH ASHADHA, 1947
RFA NO. 619 OF 2016
OS NO.1263 OF 2011 OF II ADDITIONAL SUB COURT, THRISSUR
APPELLANTS/DEFENDANTS
1 THANKA, W/O. MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @ KOCHUKRISHNAN,
AGED 87,MANNAKATTIL DESOM, VILVATTAM VILLAGEP.O
RAMAVARMAPURAM ENGINEERING COLLEGE, THRISSUR TALUK,
PIN 680 631
2 SUKUMARAN, S/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN, AGED 59,MANNAKATTIL DESOM, VILVATTAM
VILLAGE P.O RAMAVARMAPURAM ENGINEERING COLLEGE,
THRISSUR TALUK, PIN 680 631
3 RAJAGOPALAN, S/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN, AGED 53,MANNAKATTIL DESOM, VILVATTAM
VILLAGE P.O RAMAVARMAPURAM ENGINEERING COLLEGE,
THRISSUR TALUK, PIN 680 631
4 ANANDAN, S/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN, AGED 46,MANNAKATTIL DESOM, VILVATTAM
VILLAGE P.O RAMAVARMAPURAM ENGINEERING COLLEGE,
THRISSUR TALUK, PIN 680 631
BY ADVS.
SHRI.P.B.KRISHNAN (SR.)
SRI.P.M.NEELAKANDAN
SRI.SABU GEORGE
SRI.P.B.SUBRAMANYAN
SRI.S.V.BALAKRISHNA IYER
RESPONDENTS/PLAINTIFFS
RFA 619/2016
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1 VIJAYALAKSHMI,D/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN, & W/O. VADUVILPURAKKAL N.K
VELAYUDHAN, AGED 70 PERUMBILLISSERY DESOM, CHOVVUR
VILLAGE, THRISSUR TALUK, PIN 680 027
2 SATHYABHAMA,D/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN AND W/O. LATE PRABHAKARAN, AGED 68,
CHEMBIL HOUSE, SATHYAORABHA P.O RAMAVARMAPURAM,
THRISSUR 680 631
3 RUGMINI, D/O.LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN, AND W/O. RAMACHANDRAN, AGED 65, 107,
SREENIVASAPURAM, ANAKAPUTHUR, CHENNAI 600 070,
TAMIL NADU
4 LEELA, D/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN AND W/O. K.K CHANDRAN, AGED 56,
SHRISHTI HOUSING COMLEX, SECTOR V, KIRITKA B WING,
FLAT NO 33, MIKA ROAD EAST, THANE, BOMBAY
5 KUMARI, D/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN AND W/O. MOHANAN C.K,AGED 52,CHEMBIL
HOUSE, KIZHAKKUMPATTUKARA, THRISSUR 680 005
6 DEVI, D/O. LATE MANNAKATTIL KUNJUNNI @
KOCHUKRISHNAN, AND W/O. SURESH B, AGED 50,EXECUTING
ENGINEER, FLAT NO M2, AMBIKA TOWERS, 47,VALLUVA
SALAI, 100 FT. ROAD, KARAIKUDI, TAMIL NADU
BY ADVS.
SRI.K.R.ARUN KRISHNAN
SHRI.G.SREEKUMAR (CHELUR)
SMT.DEEPA K.RADHAKRISHNAN
SHRI.JISSMON A KURIAKOSE
SHRI.SANAL C.S
SRI.P.B.SUBRAMANYAN
THIS REGULAR FIRST APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD
ON 3.7.2025, THE COURT ON 10.07.2025 DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
RFA 619/2016
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2025:KER:50918
JUDGMENT
Dated : 10th July, 2025 The defendants in O.S.1263/2011 on the file of the II Additional Sub Court, Thrissur, are the appellants. ((For the purpose of convenience the parties are hereafter referred to as per their rank before the trial court.).
2. The plaintiffs filed the above suit for partition. Plaintiffs 1 to 6 are the daughters of deceased Kunjunni and the 1 st defendant Thanka. Defendants 2 to 4 are their sons. Kunjunni died on 29.11.1991. Admittedly the plaint schedule property item Nos.1 and 2 belonged to late Kunjunni. According to the plaintiffs, Kunjunni died intestate and as such, the plaintiffs 1 to 6 and defendants 1 to 4 are entitled to get 1/10 share each from the plaint schedule property. Though they have issued Ext.A2 notice demanding partition of the properties amicably, the defendants refused to cooperate and hence they preferred the suit for partition.
3. In the written statement filed by the defendants they have contended that during the life time, Kunjunni assigned 14 cents from plaint schedule item No.2 in favour of the 3rd defendant and regarding the remaining property in item No.2 and regarding item No.1 property he had executed Ext.B1 Will dated 21.5.1982. Therefore, according to them, the plaint schedule properties are not available for partition. Accordingly, they prayed for dismissing the suit. Thereafter, the plaint was amended incorporating the pleadings denying execution of Ext.B1 Will as well as Ext.B12 settlement deed. The prayer was also amended and a new prayer for RFA 619/2016 4 2025:KER:50918 declaring that Ext.B1 Will and B12 settlement deed are not binding on the plaintiffs and the plaint schedule property and if required to set aside those documents was also added.
4. The trial court framed seven issues. The evidence in the case consists of the oral testimonies of PW1 and DWs1 to 5 and Exts.A1 to A3 and B1 to B13. After evaluating the evidence on record, the trial court found that the defendants failed to prove the execution of Ext.B1 Will and Ext.B12 settlement deed and accordingly, a preliminary decree for partition in tune with the prayer in the suit was passed. Being aggrieved by the above preliminary decree and judgment, the defendants preferred this appeal.
5. Now the points that arise for consideration are the following :
(1) Whether the defendants have succeeded in proving the execution of Ext.B1 Will and Exts.B12 settlement deed ?
(2) Whether the impugned judgment and decree of the trial court calls for any interference, in the light of the grounds raised in the appeal ?
6. Heard Sri.S.V.Balakrishna Iyer the learned Senior counsel appearing for the appellants as instructed by Sri.P.B.Subramanyan and Sri.K.R.Arun Krishnan, the learned counsel for the respondents
7. The points- Admittedly plaintiffs 1 to 6 are the daughters and defendants 2 to 4 are the sons of late Kunjunni and the 1 st defendant Thanka. It is also admitted that the plaint schedule item No.1 consists of 35 cents and item No.2 RFA 619/2016 5 2025:KER:50918 consists of 36 cents belonged to late Kunjunni who died on 29.11.1991 and Ext.A1 is his title deed in that respect. While according to the plaintiffs Kunjunni died intestate and as such, the plaint schedule properties are partible among the plaintiffs and defendants, according to the defendants Kunjunni settled a portion of schedule property from item No.2 in favour of the 3rd defendant as per Et.B12 settlement deed dated 20.5.1982 and with regard to the remaining properties he had executed Ext.B1 Will dated 21.5.1982.
8. In order to prove the due execution of Ext.B1 Will and Ext.B12 settlement deed, the defendants examined DWs1 to 5. In Ext.B1 Will as well as in Ext.B12 settlement deed the attestors are common namely, one Sreedhara Menon and one Prabhakaran who is also a scribe who prepared both those documents. Though Prabhakaran is the scribe who prepared those documents, he signed in those documents as an attestor also. Ext.B12 is dated 20.5.1982 while Ext.B1 is dated 21.5.1982. However, both those documents were registered on the same day on 24.5.1982. Ext.B12 was registered at 2.45 pm, while Ext.B1 was registered at 2.50 pm. At the time of evidence, both those attestors were no more. In the above circumstances, the above documents are to be proved as required under Section 69 of the Evidence Act.
9. The 2nd defendant was examined as DW1. DW2 is the wife of the attestor Prabhakaran. DW3 is the son of Samuel, one of the witnesses who identified Kunjunni before the Sub Registrar. DW4 is the Secretary of a nearby temple wherein RFA 619/2016 6 2025:KER:50918 Kunjunni was working as treasurer till 1988. DW5 was the Sub Registrar of the Sub Registry wherein Exts.B1 and B12 were registered. During the examination of DW2, the wife of Prabhakaran, she admitted the signature of Prabhakaran in Ext.B1 will. DW3, the son of Samuel, admitted the signature of Samuel in Ext.B1. Though in the proof affidavit DW1 claimed that Exts.B1 and B12 were executed by his father Kunjunni, in the proof affidavit it was not specifically stated that the signature in Exts.B1 and B12 were that of his father Kunjunni. Most interestingly, the original of Ext.B12 was not produced before the Court at the time of evidence. According to the defendants, immediately after the execution of Ext.B12, in favour of a 3 rd defendant, he availed a loan for constructing a residential building in the said property and he had deposited the original deed before the bank. What was produced and marked as Ext.B12 was its certified copy.
10. Settlement deed as well as Will are documents required by law to be attested. The proof of execution of documents required by law to be attested is dealt with in Section 68 of the Evidence Act, which is extracted below for reference:
68. Proof of execution of document required by law to be attested.
If a document is required by law to be attested, it shall not be used as evidence until one attesting witness at least has been called for the purpose of proving its execution, if there be an attesting witness alive, and subject to the process of the Court and capable of giving evidence:
[Provided that it shall not be necessary to call an attesting witness in proof of the execution of any document, not being a Will, which has been registered in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Registration Act, 1908 (XVI of 1908), RFA 619/2016 7 2025:KER:50918 unless its execution by the person by whom it purports to have been executed is specifically denied.]
11. Therefore both Exts.B1 and B12 are to be proved as required under Section 68 of the Evidence Act. Since in the instant case at the time of evidence both the attestors were no more, those documents are to be proved as required under Section 69 of the Evidence Act, which reads as follows:
69. Proof where no attesting witness found.
If no such attesting witness can be found, or if the document purports to have been executed in the United Kingdom, it must be proved that the attestation of one attesting witness at least is in his handwriting, and that the signature of the person executing the document is in the handwriting of that person.
12. Section 69 has two limbs. The 1st limb is regarding proof of the handwriting of at least one attesting witness and the 2nd limb is proving the handwriting of the person who executed the documents. In the instant case, through DW2, the signature of one of the attestors namely Prabhakaran in Ext.B1 was proved. However, none of the witnesses were called upon to prove the signature of Kunjunni in Exts.B1 and B12. According to the learned Senior counsel, it was due to an inadvertent omission that the 2nd limb of Section 69 was omitted to be proved. Therefore, he prayed for remanding the matter to the trial court and to give one more opportunity to the defendants to prove the same and according to him, if not, the defendants will be put to irreparable injury, hardships and loss.
13. On merits also, he has invited my attention to several circumstances to show that Exts.B1 and B12 were executed by Kunjunni voluntarily and in sound RFA 619/2016 8 2025:KER:50918 disposing state of mind. The contention taken by the plaintiffs is that Exts.B1 and B12 were not executed by Kunjunni and even if it is found that the signature therein is that of Kunjunni, it was happened to be executed under vitiating circumstances like fraud, misrepresentation and undue influence. As I have already noted above, as per Ext.B12 settlement deed on 20.5.1982, Kunjunni settled 14 cents of property from plaint schedule item No.2 in favour of the 3rd defendant, his 2nd son. As per Ext.B1 Will, 18 cents of property from item No.2 was set apart to his first son namely, the 2 nd defendant and the remaining 4 cents in item No.2 was also set apart to the 3 rd defendant to make the share of defendants 2 and 3 equally, namely 18 cents each. The plaint schedule item No.1 consisting of 35 cents and the residential building therein was set apart for the younger son namely, the 4 th defendant, reserving life interest to the 1st defendant.
14. In Ext.B1 Will there is specific mention about execution of Ext.B12 settlement deed. At the time of execution of Ext.B1, the marriage of plaintiffs 1 to 4 alone was solemnized and they were living along with their husbands. In Ext.B1 it was specifically stated that in case the marriage of plaintiffs 5 and 6 could not be conducted during his life time, defendants 2 and 3 should pay a sum of Rs.25,000/- each to them. Ext.B1 further states that after the death of the1st defendant, the 4 th defendant has to pay a sum of Rs.3000/- each to plaintiffs 1 to 6. At the time of evidence, it is revealed that the marriage of plaintiffs 5 and 6 were also solemnized during the life time of Kunjunni. During the evidence of DW1, she admitted that the RFA 619/2016 9 2025:KER:50918 3rd defendant constructed the residential building in the property covered by Ext.B12 settlement deed during the life time of Kunjunni, with the permission of Kunjunni.
15. In the amended plaint, the plaintiffs have taken a contention that since 1976, Kunjunni was suffering from various ailments including alzheimers and hence, he was not in a sound disposing state of mind so as to execute Exts.B1 and B12. However, from the evidence of DW4, the Secretary of a nearby Temple, it is revealed that Kunjunni was working as Treasurer of the Temple till 1988. Further, from the evidence of DW4 it is revealed that some valuables belonging to the Temple was kept in the custody of Kunjunni in his residence and that they were received back only in 1993 as per Ext.B11 document. Further, the defendants produced Exs.B2 and B3 documents executed by Kunjunni in the year 1985 and 1986 which would go to show that even after the execution of Exts.B1 and B12 Kunjunni had executed registered documents in favour of strangers. The plaintiffs have not disputed the execution of Exts.B2 and B3 documents. Therefore, the contention of the plaintiffs that at the time of execution of Exts.B1 and B12, Kunjunni was not in a sound disposing state of mind cannot be accepted as true. Though they have taken a further contention that those documents were executed under fraud, coercion and misrepresentation they have not adduced any evidence to prove those contentions, in spite of the fact that it is the burden of the party who alleges vitiating circumstances to prove those grounds. It was in the above context that the trial court found that the plaintiffs could not prove the allegation that Kunjunni was not in sound disposing state of mind during the RFA 619/2016 10 2025:KER:50918 relevant period. Similarly the plaintiff also failed to prove any vitiating circumstances in the execution of Exts.B1 and B12. Even then, the trial court decreed the suit for the sole ground that the defendants failed to prove the 2 nd limb of Section 69 of the Evidence Act.
16. During the pendency of the appeal, the appellant filed I.A.1/2024 and produced the original of Exts.B12 as Annexure A and two other documents Nos.2028/1965 and 618/1972 of SRO Thrissur as annexure B and C containing the signature of Kunjunni and prayed for comparing the admitted signature of Kunjunni in those documents with that in Exts.B1 and B12. Of course, the signature of Kunjunni in Ext.B1 and B12 are prima facie identical to the signature in the new documents produced as Annexures B and C.. In this context it is also to be noted that though Kunjunni died in 1991, the plaintiffs filed the suit only in 2011, 20 years after the death of Kunjunni. In the meantime, the defendants constructed residential building in the scheduled property and are enjoying the same as their own, in the light of Exts.B1 and B12.
17. The learned counsel for the plaintiffs relying upon Order XLI Rule 27 CPC would argue that, the new documents produced along with I.A.1/2024 cannot be received as the scope of Order XLI Rule 27 is very limited. Order XLI Rule 27 CPC which deals with additional evidence in appeal reads as follows :
Production of additional evidence in Appellate Court (1) The parties to an appeal shall not be entitled to produce additional evidence, whether oral or documentary, in the Appellate Court. But if -RFA 619/2016 11
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(a) the Court from whose decree the appeal is preferred has refused to admit evidence which ought to have been admitted, or (aa) the party seeking to produce additional evidence, establishes that notwithstanding the exercise of due diligence, such evidence was not within his knowledge or could not, after the exercise of due diligence, be produced by him at the time when the decree appealed against was passed, or
(b) the Appellate Court requires any document to be produced or any witness to be examined to enable it to pronounce judgment, or for any other substantial cause, the Appellate Court may allow such evidence or document to be produced, or witness to be examined.
(2) Whenever additional evidence is allowed to be produced by an Appellate Court, the Court shall record the reason for its admission. "
18. The scope of Order XLI Rule 27 CPC was discussed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the decision in Sanjay Kumar Singh v. State of Jharkhand, (2022) 7 SCC 247. In paragraph 4 and 5 the Apex Court held that :
"4. It is true that the general principle is that the appellate court should not travel outside the record of the lower court and cannot take any evidence in appeal. However, as an exception, Order 41 Rule 27 CPCenables the appellate court to take additional evidence in exceptional circumstances. It may also be true that the appellate court may permit additional evidence if the conditions laid down in this Rule are found to exist and the parties are not entitled, as of right, to the admission of such evidence. However, at the same time, where the additional evidence sought to be adduced removes the cloud of doubt over the case and the evidence has a direct and important bearing on the main issue in the suit and interest of justice clearly renders it imperative that it may be allowed to be permitted on record, such application may be allowed. Even, one of the circumstances in which the production of additional evidence under Order 41 Rules 27 CPC by the appellate court is to be considered is, whether or not the appellate court requires the additional evidence so as to enable it to pronouncement judgment or for any other substantial cause of like nature. As observed and held by this Court in the case of RFA 619/2016 12 2025:KER:50918 A. Andisamy Chettiar v. A. Subburaj Chettiar, reported in (2015) 17 SCC 713, the admissibility of additional evidence does not depend upon the relevancy to the issue on hand, or on the fact, whether the applicant had an opportunity for adducing such evidence at an earlier stage or not, but it depends upon whether or not the appellate court requires the evidence sought to be adduced to enable it to pronounce judgment or for any other substantial cause. It is further observed that the true test, therefore is, whether the appellate court is able to pronounce judgment on the materials before it without taking into consideration the additional evidence sought to be adduced.
5. Applying the law laid down by this Court in the aforesaid decision to the facts of the case on hand, we are of the opinion that while considering the application for additional evidence, the High Court has not at all adverted to the aforesaid relevant consideration, i.e., whether the additional evidence sought to be adduced would have a direct bearing on pronouncing the judgment or for any other substantial cause....."
19. Relying upon the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Sirajudheen v. Zeenath, 2023 (2) KHC 577, the learned counsel for the plaintiffs would argue that merely for the purpose of filling up the lacuna in the plaintiffs' case, the matter cannot be remanded.
20. In the decision in Leela Devi K.R. (Dr.) v. K.R.Rajaram, 2025 (4) KHC 287, a Division Bench of this Court after evaluating the various decisions, assessed the scope of Section 69 of the Evidence Act and held as under :
"20. Therefore, a witness cited to prove a Will under Section 69 of the Evidence Act need not necessarily be a person who had seen the executant and attesting witnesses affixing their signatures; it is sufficient to prove that the signatures were in the handwriting of the respective persons. This is the essential distinction between the mode of proof under Section 68 and Section 69 of the Indian Evidence RFA 619/2016 13 2025:KER:50918 Act. This court has taken a similar view in C.G. Raveendran v. C.G. Gopi (AIR 2015 Ker 250).
21. In a case where the witness cited to prove the Will under Section 69 of the Evidence Act establishes that he had witnessed the testator and the witnesses signing the Will, it is sufficient proof that the attestation by the attesting witnesses is in their handwriting and that the signature of the testator is in that person's handwriting. It constitutes sufficient compliance with Section 69. When the witness deposes that he saw the executant and the attesting witnesses sign the document in question, it amounts to the proof required under Section 69. In the above context, it is also relevant to note the opinion of the Division Bench of the Patna High Court in Haradhan Mahatha and Others v. Dukhu Mahatha (AIR 1993 Pat 129), where it is held as follows:
"Identification of signature is not necessary to prove a document, as required under Section 69 of the Act. Identification of signature is necessary only if document is not signed in presence of the witness. In a case, where document has been executed in presence of a witness, it is not necessary for him to say that he identifies the signature. It is sufficient for the witness, if he says that the document in question produced in Court, to which his attention was drawn, was executed and attested in his presence. Therefore, I am clearly of the view that the requirement of Section 69 of the Act has been complied with and the Will in question has been rightly admitted into evidence by trial Court."
22. While Section 68 of the Evidence Act deals with the mode of proof of execution of documents required by law to be attested, Section 69 provides an alternative procedure for proving such a document when the mode provided in Section 68 cannot be resorted to in certain circumstances. Nevertheless, Section 69can be invoked only on satisfaction of the condition mentioned therein. Once the document is proved in the manner provided in Section 69, it amounts to the proof of due execution and attestation of that document.
21. In the decision in C.G.Raveendran & Ors. v. C.G.Gopi & Ors., AIR 2015 Ker. 250, another Division Bench of this Court held in pararagh 19 as follows : RFA 619/2016 14
2025:KER:50918 "It is settled that mode of proving a Will does not ordinarily differ from that of proving any other document except as to the special requirement of attestation prescribed by Section 63 of Indian Succession Act. Section 69 imposes a twin fold duty on the propounder. It provides that if no such attesting witness can be found, it must be proved that attestation of one attesting witness at least is in his handwriting and also that the signature of the person executing the document is in the handwriting of that person. Hence, to rely on a Will propounded in a case covered by Section 69 the propounder should prove i) that the attestation is in the handwriting of the attesting witness and ii) that the document was signed by the executant. Both the limbs will have to be cumulatively proved by the propounder. Evidently, the section demands proof of execution in addition to attestation and does not permit execution to be inferred from proof of attestation. However, Section. 69 presumes that once the handwriting of attesting witness is proved he has witnessed the execution of the document. The twin requirement of proving the signature and handwriting has to be in accordance with Section 67 of the Indian Evidence Act.
22. It is true that for the purpose of filling up lacuna in the plaintiffs' case, remand cannot be ordered. Order 41 Rule 27(1)(b) states that if the Appellate Court requires any document to be produced or any witness to be examined to enable it to pronounce judgment, or for any other substantial cause, the Appellate Court may allow such evidence or document to be produced, or witness to be examined.
23. In the instant case, as I have already noted above, for one reason or another, the defendants failed to prove the 2nd limb of Section 69 of the Evidence Act. Though DW1 being the son of Kunjunni was a competent witness to prove the signature of Kunjunni in Ext.B1 and B12, it appears that evidence required to prove the 2nd limb of Section 69 of the Evidence Act relating to Ext.B1 and B12 was not stated in his proof affidavit and no attempt was seen made to bring such evidence RFA 619/2016 15 2025:KER:50918 during his re-examination also. In spite of examining five witnesses on the side of the defendants, no such evidence was brought out from their evidence also, presumably because of the lack of experience or diligence on the part of the lawyer who conducted the case before the trial court. If in such a situation the new documents produced are not accepted in evidence and the defendants are not permitted to adduce further evidence to prove the 2nd limb of section 69 of the Evidence Act in respect of Exts.B1 and B12, serious prejudice will be caused to the defendants and the same will also lead to failure of justice. For a proper and effective adjudication of the actual dispute between the parties also, such an opportunity is to be given. At the same time, the inconvenience caused to the plaintiffs due to such delay also is to be addressed.
24. Therefore, considering the entire facts, I hold that one more opportunity can be given to the defendants to adduce evidence to prove the 2nd limb of Section 69 of the Evidence Act, in respect of Ext.B1 and B12 documents. For that purpose, the matter requires to be remanded to the trial court for fresh disposal. If that be so, I.A.1/2024 filed by the defendants under Order XLI Rule 27 also is to be allowed and the documents produced along with the I.A. are to be received in evidence. At the same time, the plaintiffs who are prosecuting this case since 2011 requires reasonable compensation by way of costs. Since altogether six plaintiffs are there, I hold that a cost of Rs.60,000/- at the rate of Rs.10,000/- to each plaintiff will be a reasonable cost in this case. The points answered accordingly.
25. In the result, this appeal is allowed. The impugned judgment and decree RFA 619/2016 16 2025:KER:50918 of the trial court is set aside. I.A.1/2024 filed by the defendants under Order XLI Rule 27 is allowed and the documents produced along with the I.A. are marked as Exts.B14 to B16. The matter is remanded to the trial court for fresh disposal after affording opportunity to both sides to adduce further evidence, if any, on condition that the appellants shall pay a cost of Rs.10,000/- each to the plaintiffs 1 to 6 (total Rs.60,000/-) within a period of 15 days from today.
For payment of costs and report, call on 28.7.2025.
All pending interlocutory applications in the appeal will stand closed.
Sd/-
C.Pratheep Kumar, Judge Mrcs/4.7.