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Judgment
The question for decision is whether a deed of mortgage executed by a Karnavan in payment of a decree debt which was barred by limitation at
the date of the mortgage ia binding on the junior members of the Tarward.
Mr. Kuttikrishna Menon for the appellant relied on Era-vanni Ravi Varman v. Ittappo Ravi Varman ILR (1875) M. 153 in support of the
proposition that the Karnavan of a Malabar Tarwad occupies a position analogous to that of a Hindu father under the Mitakshara Law We do not
think that the learned Judges intended in that case to draw a distinction between the position of a father and that of a bare manager. The exact
status of a Karnavan was considered more elaborately in Achal Ram v. Kazim Husain (1905) 15 M.L.J. 197 and Kunhi-chekhan v. Lydia
Arucanden (1911) 11 M.L.T. 232 and we agree with the view taken in these two decisions that the Karnavan occupies a position more akin to
that of a manager, than to that of a Hindu father. The peculiar obligations which a Hindu son incurs in respect of the debt of his father are not those
with which a junior member of a tarwad is chargeable with reference to the Karnavan''s debts.
It has been held in Chinnayya v. Gurunathan ILR (1882) M. 169 that the manager of a Hindu family is not entitled to revive a barred debt and
this decision has been cited with approval in Narayana-swami v. Sami Das I.L.R (1883) M. 293, Kondappa v. Subba ILR (1890) M. 189 and
Suryanarayana v. Narendra Tatraz I.L.R (1896) M. 255, As regards Kondappa v. Subba ILR (1890) M. 189 it is enough to point out that the
widow was regarded as being under a pious duty to relieve her husband from the sin of not paying a just debt. In the case of sons, the Hindu Law
imposes an obligation to pay their father''s debts not tainted with illegality or immorality. That is the reason of the rule in Narayanaswami v. Sami
Das I.L.R (1883) M. 293 We do not think that the view in Dulip Singh v. Kundan Lal ILR (1914) A. 207 to the contrary is good Law,
As regards the English cases, the principle enunciated by Homer, J. in Midgley v. Midgley (1893) 3 Ch. 282 is that the payment of a barred
debt will not enable the legatees to charge an executor with devastavit. As pointed out by Mr. Madhavan Nair, this is a very exceptional
proposition which should not be extended to Indian conditions. Moreover in England a debtor is not bound to plead the Statute of Limitations,
whereas under the Limitation Act, the court is bound to dismiss a claim, if it is barred by limitation. One other distinguishing feature is that an
executor is directed to pay all the just debts of a testor. There is no similar obligation on the Karnavan. It is open to argument however that if a
debt barred by limitation has been actually paid, the karnavan might not be held liable for having paid it. That would stand on the analogy of an
executor or trustee not being liable to be proceeded against for devastavit under similar circumstances. See in re Rowson : Field v. White (1885)
29 Ch. D. 358. But that is not the present case. Here the holder of the mortgage has obtained only a promise and not payment. That promise has
to be enforced against the tarwad; and the members are entitled to plead that the promise has not been made for necessary or lawful purposes.
That is the principle which Hindu junior members are entitled to invoke as against the manager.
Regarding the argument that Section 25 of the Contract Act can be utilised against the tarwad, the answer suggested by Mr. Madhavan Nair
seems reasonable. The mortgage document may be regarded as having consideration; but that is not enough to charge the tarwad with liability. The
consideration must be such as to bind the members either by showing that the transaction was beneficial or was justifiable.
We are therefore of opinion that the document sued on is not binding on the tarwad and dismiss the second appeal with costs.