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A.Ponnusamy (Died) vs R.Palanisamy
2026 Latest Caselaw 384 Mad

Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 384 Mad
Judgement Date : 17 February, 2026

[Cites 20, Cited by 0]

Madras High Court

A.Ponnusamy (Died) vs R.Palanisamy on 17 February, 2026

                                                                                                S.A.No.568 of 2020
                                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

                                        Reserved on                          18.11.2025
                                       Pronounced on                           17.02.2026


                                                          CORAM

                            THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE K.GOVINDARAJAN
                                          THILAKAVADI

                                                  S.A.No.568 of 2020
                                            and C.M.P.Nos.11996 of 2020


                     A.Ponnusamy (died)
                     2.K.Subbulakshmi
                     3.A.Ammaniammal
                     4.S.Poongothai
                     5.C.Bakkiyalakshmi
                     6.C.Sathyamoorthy
                     7.Ramathal
                     8.Mani
                     9.K.P.Shanmugam
                     10.P.Nagarathinam
                     [*Appellants 7 to 10 are brought on
                     record as legal heirs of the deceased
                     1st appellant vide order of Court
                     dated     30.07.2025      made     in
                     C.M.P.No.14920, 14917 & 14914 of
                     2022 in S.A.No.568 of 2020 [KGTJ]
                                                                                        ...Appellants

                     Page 1 of 26




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                                                                                                  S.A.No.568 of 2020
                                                             Vs.
                     1.R.Palanisamy
                     2.D.Manonmani
                     3.R.Mardhathaal
                                                                                           ...Respondents

                     Prayer: Second Appeal is filed under Section 100 CPC, 1908 to set aside
                     the decree and judgment dated 24.01.2020 passed in A.S. No.43 of 2018,
                     on the file of the 1st Additional District Judge Coimbatore, reversing the
                     Judgment and decree dated 28.02.2018 passed in O.S.No.1248 of 2010,
                     on the file of the II Additional Subordinate Judge, Coimbatore.


                                             For Appellant            : Mr.N.Manokaran
                                             For Respondents : Mr.D.Muthukumar
                                                                        for Mr.P.D.Anbarasan
                                                                        for R1 to R3



                                                          JUDGMENT

The above second appeal arises out of the judgment and decree

dated 24.01.2020 passed in A.S. No.43 of 2018, on the file of the 1 st

Additional District Judge Coimbatore, reversing the Judgment and decree

dated 28.02.2018 passed in O.S.No.1248 of 2010, on the file of the II

Additional Subordinate Judge, Coimbatore.

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2. The case of the plaintiff is that Sangappa Gounder and

Kuppanda Gounder are brothers. Kuppanda Gounder had no children

whereas Sangappa Gounder had 2 sons namely, Ramsamy Gounder and

Ayee Gounder. The plaintiffs are the legal heirs of Ayee Gounder and the

defendants are the legal heirs of Ramasamy Gounder. The said Kuppanda

Gounder executed two settlement deeds dated 07.08.1933 settling 2 acres

out of 6.02 acres and 7 anganam out of 14 anganam house in favour of

Ayee Gounder and his proposed wife Tmt. Rangammal. After the death of

Ayee Gounder, his brother Ramasamy Gounder arranged for a partition

under the partition deed dated 12.04.1961 between himself and

Ponnusamy / 1st plaintiff for himself and as a guardian for his brother

minor Chinnasamy. In the said partition, Ramasamy Gounder was allotted

'A' schedule property. Ponnusamy and his minor brother Chinnasamy

were allotted 'B' schedule property. The plaintiffs 2 to 4 were not made as

parties in the partition deed dated 12.04.1961, and is no reference about

the settlement deed dated 07.08.1933 in the said partition deed dated

12.04.1961. Under such circumstances, the plaintiffs came to know about

the said settlement deed only in December 2009. Hence, the plaintiffs.

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3. The claim of the plaintiff was resisted by the defendant stating

that neither the defendants 1 and 2 nor their father Ramasamy Gounder

had knowledge about the settlement deed dated 07.08.1933. The 1 st

plaintiff had not disclosed the said settlement deed dated 07.08.1933 at

the time of entering into the partition deed dated

12.04.1961. The recitals in the partition deed dated 12.04.1961 would

reveal that there was an oral partition about 6 to 7 years prior to the said

partition. Both the parties to the partition deed dated 12.04.1961 had

improved the land and also dealt with their respective shares. Hence, the

suit is liable to be dismissed.

4. Based on the above pleadings, the trial court framed necessary

issues. The 1st Plaintiff was examined as PW1 and 12 documents were

marked. Two witnesses were examined on the side of the Defendant and

17 documents were marked. The trial court based on the materials on

record, decreed the suit in favour of the plaintiff, against which, the

defendant preferred the appeal suit. The first appellate court reversed the

findings of the Trial Court, hence the second appeal has been preferred by

the Plaintiffs.

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5. Challenging the above judgment and decree passed in A.S.

No.43/2018, this Second Appeal is preferred by the plaintiffs.

6.This second appeal is admitted on the following substantial

questions of law:

“i. Whether the Courts below were right in upholding the validity of Ex.A2 partition deed, more so, when the minor son of Ayee Gounder namely Chinnasamy Gounder was represented by bis brother as a guardian, even though his mother, the natural guardian, was alive?

ii. Whether the Courts below were right in upholding Ex.A2, in the absence of the daughters of Ayee Gounder having been made parties to the said document?’’

7. Mr.N.Manokaran, the learned counsel for the appellants would submit

that admittedly, Kuppanda Gounder had half share in item 1(6.02 acres)

and item 2 (14 anganam house). He had no children, therefore, he had

executed Ex.A1 settlement deed dated 07.08.1933 in favour of Ayee

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Gounder in respect of 2 acres out of 6.02 acres and 7 anganam out of 14

anganam house. Recitals in Ex.A1 clearly indicate that the physical

possession has been handed over to the settlee/ Ayee Gounder. During the

lifetime of Ayee Gounder, his brother Ramasamy Gounder (father of D1

and D2) did not dispute the settlement deed/ Ex.A1. Under such

circumstances, excluding the extent settled under Ex.A1, the remaining

extents were alone available for partition on 12.04.1961 (Ex.A2). But

after the death of Ayee Gounder in the year 1958, the father of the

defendants 1 and 2 had managed to include Ex.A1 properties in Ex.A2

partition deed dated 12.04.1961, detrimental to the interest of the

plaintiffs.

8. The learned Counsel for the appellant submits that the stand

taken by the Respondents that Ex.A1 settlement deed was not acted upon,

is unsustainable for various reasons. Firstly, the defendants have pleaded

that neither they nor their father Ramasamy Gounder were aware of

Ex.A1 settlement deed dated 07.08.1933, therefore, the defendants were

unable to explain their stand. In fact, there was no issue framed with

regard to acceptance of Ex.A1 in the suit or a point for determination was

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raised in the appeal suit. The plea of non acceptance of Ex.A1 is

misconceived in view of the legal position settled in :-

(i) Renikuntla Rajamma vs. Sarvanamma reported in 2024(9)

SCC 445 16.

(ii) S.Ganesh vs. Barathirajan reported in 2009(5) CTC 558 10.

(iii) K.Jaya vs. Padma reported in MANU/TN/6017/2023, the

Hon'ble Division Bench in K.Jaya case held as under:

"The action of the civil Court declaring the

document invalid on the ground that there is no

acceptance is in our opinion totally uncalled for. There

was no issue framed in the suit regarding the acceptance

or otherwise of the settlement. In fact in the written

statement filed, the defendant has specifically pleaded that

her father had told her even before execution of the

settlement deed that he is going to execute a settlement

deed and that she had accepted the same. The document

also reads that possession was handed over to the

defendant at the time when the settlement was executed.

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Therefore, the District Court was not right in concluding

that the settlement deed is invalid for want of acceptance.

We are therefore unable to sustain the judgement of the

trial court"

9. The Learned Counsel for the Appellants further submitted that,

Ex.A2 partition deed dated 12.04.1961 is void ab initio, as, the 1st

plaintiff, aged 21 years then, had allegedly represented his minor brother

Chinnasamy, aged 9 years, after the death of their father Ayee Gounder.

Admittedly, their mother Tmt. Chinnammal, wife of Ayee Gounder was

very much alive. While so, the 1st plaintiff cannot legally act as a guardian

for his minor brother Chinnasamy under the Hindu Minority and

Guardianship Act, 1956. Section 4 (b) defines "Guardian", Section 4 (c)

defines "Natural Guardian" means any of the guardian mentioned in

Section 6. Section 6 reads that the natural guardian of a Hindu minor in

the case of a boy is "the father", and after him "the mother". Nowhere the

Act empowers the brother to act as a natural guardian. Whereas, the

Learned First Appellate Court has held contrary to sections 4 and 6 of the

Act as under:

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nkYk; th/rh/M/2 Vw;gl;l nghJ rpd;dr;rhkp ,stuhf ,Ue;jhy ; mtUf;F fhg;ghsuhf mtuJ jhahh;

fhl;lg;glhky; 1k; thjp fhg;ghsuhf fhl;o Vw;gl;l th/rh/M/2 ghf rhrdk ; bry;yhJ vd;w tprhuiz ePjpkd;wj;jpd; Kot[k; jtwhdJ/ Vbdd;why; ,sth; rpd;dr;rhkpapd; cld; gpwe;j rnfhjuh; jhd; 1 k; thjp Mthh;/ me;j FLk;gj;jpd; Mz; thhpRk; mth; jhd;/ mjdhy; 1 k; thjp mtuJ rnfhjuuhd ,sth ; rpd;dr;rhkpf;F fhg;ghsuhf ,Ue;J Vw;gl;l th/rh/M/2 ghf rhrdk; bry;yf;Toanj MFk;/

10. The learned counsel further contends that the above reasoning

is against law and that the 1st plaintiff can never be a guardian for his

minor brother Chinnasamy when his mother Chinnammal was alive. The

fact remains that while the parties can afford to remain negligent, the

Court cannot. Therefore, Ex.A2 is per se a void document. If a document

is void, it need not be challenged in the Court of Law as held in Prem

Singh v. Birbal (2006 (5) SCC 353) which read as hereunder:

"16. When a document is valid, no question arises of its

cancellation.When a document is void ab initio, a

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decree for setting aside the same would not be

necessary as the same is non est in the eye of the law, as

it would be a nullity 25. In Balvant N. Viswamitra v.

Yadav Sadashiv Muled this Court opined that a void

decree can be challenged even in execution or a

collateral proceeding holding: (SCC p. 712, para 9)

"9. The main question which arises for our

consideration is whether the decree passed by the trial

court can be said to be 'null' and 'void. In our opinion,

the law on the point is well settled. The distinction

between a decree which is void and a decree which is

wrong, incorrect, irregular or not in accordance with

law cannot be overlooked or ignored. Where a court

lacks inherent jurisdiction in passing a decree or

making an order, a decree or order passed by such court

would be without jurisdiction, non est and void ab

initio. A defect of jurisdiction of the court goes to the

root of the matter and strikes at the very authority of the

court to pass a decree or make an order. Such defect has

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always been treated as basic and fundamental and a

decree or order passed by a court or an authority

having no jurisdiction is a nullity. Validity of such

decree or order can be challenged at any stage, even in

execution or collateral proceedings"

11. While so, the defendants 1 and 2 claim that Ex.A2 partition is

fair, genuine and bonafide. Admittedly, the plaintiffs 2 to 4/ daughters and

none of the wives of late Ayee Gounder were parties to the partition deed.

Except the 1st plaintiff, aged 21, none others had signed

Ex.A2. In fact, the 1st plaintiff and his minor brother Chinnasamy were

under a fiduciary relationship with Ramasamy Gounder, who was in a

position of active confidence, therefore, the burden of proving fair play in

the transaction lies on him as per Section 111 of the Indian Evidence Act,

1872, and not for the plaintiffs to prove negative. To support his

contention, he has relied upon the judgment in Krishna Mohan Kul vs.

Pratima Maity- 2004 (9) SCC 468- Para 12.

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12. The Learned Counsel for the Appellant further contends that

the Plaintiffs 2 to 4/Daughters are entitled to get share as per Ex.A1

settlement deed. Under Ex.A1 settlement deed dated 07.08.1933, late

Kuppanda Gounder had settled 2 acres out of 6.02 acres and 7 anganam

out of 14 anganam house in the name of Ayee Gounder. The properties

settled under Ex.A1 are the separate properties of Ayee Gounder, in which

his daughters/ plaintiffs 2 to 4 and equally his wives are legally entitled to

get equal shares along with the 1st plaintiff Ponnusamy and late

Chinnasamy (P5 and P6 are his legal heirs) as per Section 8 (a) of the

Hindu Succession Act, 1956, because they are Class I heirs as per the

Schedule. Unfortunately, the Ld. First Appellate Court has proceeded as if

all the properties are ancestral, and the plaintiffs 2 to 4 were not

coparceners. In the absence of any pleadings for "blending" in the written

statement, such a conclusion would take away the property rights of the

daughters as Class I heir for their father Ayee Gounder.

13. He further submitted that Ex.B1 partition 21.11.1981 cannot

operate as Estoppel as held by the Appellate Court as the plaintiffs got 2

acres in item 1 and 7 anganam house in item 2 under Ex.A1 settlement

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deed. Whereas, without reference to Ex.A1 settlement deed, Ex.A2

partition came into existence, in which, the entire properties was divided

without reference to plaintiffs 2 to 4. Where upon, Ex.B1 partition deed

dated 21.11.1989 was entered into between the 1st plaintiff and his son.

Hence, he would contend that, it does not mean that the right under

Ex.A1 has been given up or the plaintiffs are estopped from disputing

Ex.A2. The disputed partition deed/ Ex.A2 executed without reference to

Ex.A1 settlement deed has no impact on the property right of the

plaintiffs, which is now recognized as not only a Constitutional right but

also a statutory right. Therefore it is trite law that there can be no estoppel

against a statute. To support his contention, he has relied upon the

judgment reported in 2022 (19) SCC 388.

14. The Appellant Counsel further submits that Ex.A1 settlement

deed dated 07.08.1933 is 90 years old document, which is presumed to be

valid as per Section 90 of the Evidence Act. In fact, the father of the

defendants 1 and 2 are guilty of misleading the plaintiffs without

disclosing their entitlement under Ex.A1. He further contends that the

Learned First Appellate Court has not even framed Points for

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Determination as mandated under Order 41 Rule 31 CPC, except framing

the question "Whether this Appeal has to be allowed". Hence the

judgement of the First Appellate Court is liable to be reversed. To support

his contention, he has relied upon the judgments in :

i. Prem Singh Vs. Birbal & Others reported in 2006 (5) SCC 353

ii. Renikuntla Rajamma Vs. K.Sarwanamma reported in 2014 (9)

SCC 445

iii. Krishna Mohan Kul & Another Vs. Pratima Maity & Ors

reported in 2004 (9) SCC 468

iv. S.Ganesh Vs. Bharathirajan reported in 2009 (5) CTC 558.

15. On the other hand, Mr.D.Muthukumar, learned counsel for the

respondent would submit that the Settlement Deed dated 07.08.1933,

executed by Kuppanda Gounder in favour of Ayee Gounder and

Rangammal, has not been proved to have been acted upon at any point of

time. The Appellant has failed to produce a single document to establish

possession, enjoyment, or mutation in the name of the alleged donees.

Mere registration of a document does not ipso facto transfer title, unless,

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accompanied by delivery of possession and acceptance by the donee. The

learned counsel for the respondent contends that in the absence of

subsequent acts of ownership or mutation clearly indicates that Ex.Al

remained a dormant document without legal effect. The contention that

such deed operated as an independent source of title is wholly

misconceived and contrary to the conduct of the parties spanning over

several decades.

16. The learned counsel for the respondent submits that the

Appellant has not produced any record to show that the 1933 Settlement

Deed (Exhibit A1) was ever acted upon. No patta, chitta, adangal, or tax

receipts stand in the name of the donees, nor any revenue mutation is

shown to have taken place. In the absence of such material, the claim of

possession or enjoyment is wholly unsubstantiated. A settlement deed,

though registered, is not operative unless accepted and followed by

possession. The conduct of the parties from 1933 to 1961 unmistakably

shows that the property remained joint and undivided. Thus, Exhibit A1

cannot displace the binding partition that took place subsequently.

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17. He further submitted that Ex.A2 the Partition Deed dated

12.04.1961, was executed consciously by the 1 st Plaintiff along with his

minor brother, represented through their mother. The 1st Plaintiff, being

21 years of age, was legally competent to contract and he voluntarily

participated in the said partition, which was acted upon and accepted by

all family members. The Respondent Counsel further submits that the

plea that the 1st Plaintiff was unaware of Exhibit A1 or that the same was

suppressed is an afterthought. The very fact that he subsequently executed

Exhibit B1 in the year 1989 in his own capacity, demonstrates his

complete acceptance of the 1961 partition arrangement. The partition

deed having been validly executed, acted upon, and enjoyed for decades,

cannot now be reopened after the passage of more than fifty years.

18. The learned Counsel for the respondents submitted that the

contention of the Appellant that he came to know about Exhibit Al only in

December 2009 is palpably false and intended solely to overcome the bar

of limitation. The 1st Plaintiff, being a signatory to the 1961 partition

deed and later executing another deed in 1989, was fully aware of the

property and its transactions. The plea of "date of knowledge" under the

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Limitation Act is inapplicable when the person challenging the instrument

was himself a party to it. The claim, therefore, is hopelessly barred by

limitation. Having remained silent for over five decades and having

derived benefits under the partition, the Appellant is estopped in equity

and law from asserting any fresh claim on the basis of an unacted

settlement deed.

19. The learned counsel further submitted that the appellant has

miserably failed to identify the suit schedule property with certainty. The

boundaries, measurements, and extents described in Exhibit Al do not

tally with those in Exhibit A2 or the suit schedule. The claim for one acre

out of two acres allegedly forming part of four acres covered by Exhibit

Al is vague, speculative, and incapable of enforcement. In the absence of

specific identification or demarcation, no relief of possession or

injunction can be granted. The uncertainty as to the subject-matter of the

suit itself is fatal to the maintainability of the claim.

20. The learned counsel further submitted that the Appellant has

not sought any declaratory relief regarding ownership or title under the

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1933 settlement deed. Without a prayer for declaration, the consequential

relief of possession and mandatory injunction cannot be maintained. The

Appellant's pleadings themselves disclose uncertainty regarding the

existence and location of the alleged property. The courts below rightly

held that the suit is defective in its frame and fails on the fundamental

ground of lack of title and identity of the property.

It is submitted that, the lower appellate court has rendered its findings

based on cogent appreciation of oral and documentary evidence. The

conclusions reached are supported by law and facts, and no perversity or

misapplication of legal principles has been demonstrated by the

Appellant. The absence of specific points for determination in the lower

appellate court judgment does not vitiate the decision when the reasoning

and findings sufficiently address the issues raised. The decree passed is

legally sustainable and calls for no interference. To support his

contention, he has relied upon the judgment in the case of Sri Mahesh Vs

Sangram and Others reported in 2025 SCC Online SC 12.

21.Heard on both sides and records perused.

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22. The specific contention of the learned counsel for the

appellants/plaintiffs is that, the plaintiffs are entitled for a share in the suit

properties on the basis of Ex.A1 settlement deed dated 07.08.1933

executed by Kuppanda Gounder in favour of Ayee Gounder in respect of

2 acres out of 6.02 acres and 7 anganam out of 14 anganam house. It was

denied by the defendants stating that Ex.A1 settlement deed was never

acted upon and the claim of the plaintiffs is barred by limitation and

estoppel. However, neither the trial Court nor the First Appellate Court

have framed necessary issue or point for consideration in this regard.

Since the First Appellate Court has addressed the above issue and

rendered findings in this regard, the absence of specific points for

determination in the first Appellate Court judgment does not vitiate the

decision of the first Appellate Court. The entire claim of the plaintiffs

revolves around the alleged settlement deed dated 07.08.1933 marked as

Ex.A1. The plaintiffs submits that Ex.A1 settlement deed executed by

Kuppanda Gounder in favour of Ayee Gounder and Rangammal, since he

had no children and the recitals in Ex.A1 clearly indicate that the physical

possession has been handed over to the settlee/Ayee Gounder. During the

life time of Ayee gounder, his brother Ramasamy Gounder, father of the

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defendants 1 & 2 did not dispute the settlement deed. Under such

circumstances, the properties mentioned in Ex.A1 settlement deed were

not available for partition took place on 12.04.1961 under Ex.A2. While

so, the father of the defendants 1 & 2 manage to include Ex.A1 properties

in Ex.A2 partition deed, after the demise of Ayee Gounder in the year

1958, detrimental to the interest of the plaintiffs. However, the plaintiffs

failed to prove that the alleged settlement deed was acted upon at any

point of time. No single document was produced to establish possession,

enjoyment, or mutation in the name of Ayee Gounder and Rangammal. As

rightly pointed out by the learned counsel for the respondents/defendants,

mere registration of documents does not ipso facto transfer title unless it

is accepted by the donee accompanied by delivery of possession. No

patta, chitta, adangal, or tax receipts stands in the name of the donees,

nor any revenue mutation is shown to have taken place. In the absence of

such material, the claim of possession or enjoyment of the donees is

wholly unsubstantiated. It would only indicate that Ex.A1 settlement deed

was not given effect. Further, there was a partition on 12.04.1961 under

Ex.A2 partition deed in which the 1st plaintiff along with his minor

brother took part. Subsequently, the 1st plaintiff executed another partition

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deed in the year 1989 under Ex.B.1 with respect of the properties allotted

to him under Ex.A2 partition deed. This would goes to show that he had

accepted the partition which took place in the year 1961. Though the

plaintiffs would contend that they came to know about Ex.A1 settlement

deed only in December 2009 cannot rest their claim based on the above

document for the reason that, the 1 st plaintiff being a signatory in Ex.A2

partition deed and later executed another partition deed in 1989 between

his family members. Having remained silent for over five decades and

having derived benefits under the partition, the plaintiffs are estopped in

equity and law from asserting any fresh claim on the basis of the said

settlement deed. The partition deed having been validly executed, acted

upon and enjoyed for decades, cannot now be reopened after the passage

of more than 50 years.

23.The next contention of the plaintiffs is that, Ex.A2 partition

deed is not valid, since the minor son of Ayee Gounder namely

Chinnasamy Gounder was represented by his brother as a guardian, even

though his mother, the natural guardian was alive. It is well settled that

the natural guardian could not dispose of the share of the minor in the

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joint family property. But, in the present case, the mother being a widow

cannot pursue a share as a lineage under Section 8 of the Act by claiming

through her husband as class I legal heir, and the law prevailing at the

time of 1961, enables the brother to stand as guardian and to represent the

minor, as there is no conflict of interest and the interest of the minor was

not deprived.

24.The further contention of the plaintiffs is that, the daughters of

Ayee Gounder were not made as parties in Ex.A2 partition deed and

therefore, the same is not valid. It is not in dispute that the properties

were ancestral in nature on the date of Ex.A2 partition deed (12.04.1961)

and therefore, the daughters of Ayee Gounder cannot be construed as

coparceners and they did not have right to ancestral property by birth in

the year 1961, under the Hindu Succession Act of 1956, until the Hindu

Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005 came into force and only when the

properties were available for partition. As rightly pointed out by the

learned counsel for the respondents/defendants, where rights have

crystallized through the acts of parties and decades of enjoyment have

ensued, the Courts are slow to unsettle or reopen such arrangement unless

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the underline instrument is specifically challenged and invalidated. A

partition deed which has been accepted and acted upon for over half a

century acquires a presumption of correctness and finality. Mere

allegations cannot undo the settled legal effect of such a document.

Moreover, long standing possession, mutation and subsequent

arrangements flowing from an earlier partition reinforce its binding

nature, cannot be permitted to reopen the partition unless it is an invalid

document. In the present case, no such challenge has been made against

Ex.A2 partition deed. Further, after the life time of Ramasamy Gounder

his heirs namely the defendants 1 & 2 have executed a partition deed

under Ex.B3 on 18.10.2018 dividing the properties allotted to their father

under Ex.A2 partition deed. It is therefore, evident that the parties and

their descendants have continuously enjoyed their respective shares

derived from Ex.A2 partition deed and have created further sub partitions

duly recorded and acted upon. Therefore, the rights settled under the

1961 partition deed followed by the 1989 partition deed, cannot be

reopened merely because subsequent heirs wish to revisit settled matters.

The plaintiffs have absolutely no subsisting right or claim over the suit

properties. Their reliance upon Ex.A1 settlement deed is misconceived

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and untenable. Furthermore, mere assertions of late knowledge about

Ex.A1 settlement deed do not ipso facto extend limitation. The pleadings

must clearly disclose the circumstances preventing discovery despite the

exercise of due diligence. In the absence of such averments, the plea of

postponed limitation stands excluded. The statutory requirement of due

diligence is a substantive threshold which must be satisfied to displace

the ordinary rule that limitation begins to run from the date of execution

of the instrument. In the present case, by execution of Ex.A2 partition

deed, the plea of date of knowledge is devoid of any legal basis. A barred

right to challenge a partition cannot be revived by subsequent heirs.

Therefore, an unchallenged partition deed, after expiry of limitation, gain

statutory sanctity and it cannot be disturbed unless the deed itself is set

aside through a competent legal challenge.

25.In view of the above discussion, this second appeal is devoid of

merits. No perversity or infirmity found in the findings of the first

appellate Court. All the substantial questions of law are answered against

the appellants.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 19/02/2026 01:31:23 pm )

26.In the result,

(i) The second appeal stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently,

connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

(ii) The decree and judgment dated 24.01.2020 passed in A.S.

No.43 of 2018, on the file of the 1st Additional District Judge Coimbatore,

is upheld.

17.02.2026

Index: Yes/No Internet: Yes/No Speaking/Non-Speaking order vsn

To

1. The 1st Additional District Judge, Coimbatore,

2. The Additional Subordinate Judge, Coimbatore,

3. The Section Officer, VR Section, High Court, Madras.

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 19/02/2026 01:31:23 pm )

K.GOVINDARAJAN THILAKAVADI,J.

vsn

Pre- delivery judgment made in

17.02.2026

https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis ( Uploaded on: 19/02/2026 01:31:23 pm )

 
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