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Thanka vs Vijayalakshmi
2025 Latest Caselaw 811 Ker

Citation : 2025 Latest Caselaw 811 Ker
Judgement Date : 10 July, 2025

Kerala High Court

Thanka vs Vijayalakshmi on 10 July, 2025

RFA 619/2016



                                 1

                                                     2025:KER:50918

                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



                                   2

                                                          2025:KER:50918

      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

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

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

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),

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

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

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

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 -

2025:KER:50918

(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

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

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 :

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

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

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.

 
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