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Judgment
Kumaraswami Sastriar, J.—This appeal arises out of a suit for declaring the plaintiffs right to the properties mentioned in the D schedule or
in the alternative for fresh partition. The facts of the case are: There were three brothers Ramakrishnayya, Nagabhushanam and Gopalakrishnayya.
On the 12th April. 1917, Narasimham, P.W. No. 3, purchased the undivided one-third share of Gopalakrishnayya in the family properties. In
1919 Narasimham became insolvent and the Official Receiver brought the properties to sale and the plaintiff became the purchaser of all the one-
third share. As regards Nagabhushanam, he also sold his one-third share to a stranger. These properties were under a mortgage and in August,
1917, 1st defendant that is, Ramakrishnayya filed O.S. No. 517 of 1917 on the file of the Court of the District Munsif of Gudivada to redeem the
family properties. He impleaded in that suit, his two other brothers and also Narasimham, as purchaser of Gopalakrishnayya''s share and the
Official Receiver. One of the contentions raised in that suit was that the sale to Narasimham was a nominal transaction and was not supported by
consideration. But afterwards, Gopalakrishnayya withdrew his contention and admitted that the sale-deed had consideration and that good title
passed to Narasimham. Upon that a decree for redemption was passed in favour of the plaintiff in that suit and the mortgagors. The present suit is
filed by the purchaser of Narasimham''s share from the Official Receiver, for partition and delivery to him of his one third share. It appears that
Ramakrishnayya, Nagabhushanam and Narasimham effected a division of the properties. Partition lists, K, K-1 and L were drawn up and they
refer to the items of properties that went to each man''s share. To the present suit for partition by the person entitled to Gopalakrishnayya''s share,
the defences raised were, that Gopalakrishnayya''s sale of his one-third share was nominal, fraudulent, collusive and without consideration and
passed no title to Narasimham, and that the suit O.S. No. 517 of 1917 renders the claim of the plaintiff untenable as his claim is barred by res
judicata because no relief was given to him in that suit. As regards partition the partition documents not being registered documents, are
inadmissible in evidence, and that plaintiff cannot succeed on the footing that he is entitled to separate possession of the properties in D schedule
and that suit is bad for non-joinder of Gopalakrishnayya and consequently the suit should be dismissed. It is also contended, that, even assuming
that the plaintiff is entitled to the one-third share the Subordinate Judge is wrong in allowing the set-off as regards mesne profits for two years, that
is, the period before the plaintiff purchased, against the interest which is payable to the 1st defendant who redeemed the properties.
As regards the contention that the sale-deed by Gopalakrishnayya to Narasimham is fraudulent the finding of both the Courts is, that the sale-
deed is in favour of the plaintiff and is fully supported by consideration. We may state that in the litigation of 1917, Gopalakrishnayya began by
alleging that the sale-deed was fraudulent but later on, he changed and said that he had no objection to the sale and that the property passed to his
vendee. The finding of both Courts is that the sale is binding and nothing has been stated before us which would entitle us to upset that finding of
fact. As regards the plea of res judicata it is untenable. Original Suit No. 517 of 1917 was a suit for redemption. Gopalakrishnayya first of all
disputed the validity of the transaction but later on admitted it. There was no contest and no finding on the issue and so far as the parties to that
transaction were concerned there could be none, because Gopalakrishnayya withdrew his defence. Narasimham raised the contention that the sale
was valid and it cannot be said that he failed to plead in that suit so as to bring into operation the doctrine of constructive res judicata. After
Gopalakrishnayya''s admission nothing further remained for adjudication so far as that question was concerned.
The more difficult question is as regards partition. This partition is evidenced by three partition lists, Exs. K, K-1 and L. Exhibits K and K-1 are
documents which were executed on the same date and are really parts of the same transaction. Exhibit K is a partition list. What was done was,
throe lots were drawn with the names of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, Brahma fell to the share of the 1st defendant, Vishnu, to that of the
second brother and Maheswara fell to the share of Narasimham. Exhibit K-1 distinctly says that the lots were drawn and that the parties wished
having regard to the list, to execute and register on proper stamp paper a fresh deed of partition. So far as Exs. K and K-1 are concerned, having
regard to the decision in Rajangam Ayyar v. Rajangam Ayyar 69 Ind. Cas. 123 : 46 M. 373 : 31 M.L.T. 136 : 4 U.P.L.R. 85 : 16 L.W. 615; AIR
1922 P.C. 266 : 27 C.W.N. 561 : 1922 44 M.L.J. 745 : 37 Cri.L.J. 435 : 21. A.L.J. 460 : 50 I.A. 134 these documents are admissible in
evidence to prove partition. The difficulty is with regard to Ex. L. dated 10th July 1917. It divides the properties as per list Ex. K between the
second brother Nagabhushanam, and Narasimham. We have nothing to do with the share of the 1st defendant. He admittedly got his share in all
the family properties and it is difficult to see what interest he has in the shares of the two other parties. If Ex. L is in terms a partition deed it is
inadmissible in evidence as regards the shares that fell to Nagabhushanam and Narasimham for want of registration. It refers to a house and some
lands. So far as the house is concerned, the finding of both the Courts is that the house was divided and the rent was taken in two shares and so far
as the house is concerned it is certain that there was performance on both sides, of the arrangement to divide the house. It is argued by Mr.
Raghava Rao, for the respondents that so far as Ex. L is concerned there has been part-performance ever since 1917, the parties having acted
upon Ex. L. The 1st defendant has no interest in the matter, because he got his share, and as between the others, Nagabhushanam and
Narasimham, the doctrine of part-performance will entitle the plaintiff to get hie share. It is argued that the only persons entitled do not contest and
that 1st defendant who has no interest has no locus standi. SO far as the house is concerned, both the lower Courts found a division and separate
enjoyment and there is no difficulty in holding that the plaintiff is entitled to his share. The rent has been divided as mentioned in Ex. L, and separate
possession of the property has been in both parties. It is proved that the lands have also been enjoyed separately. As regards the land, it is argued
by Mr. Raghava Rao, on the authority of the decision of Ramesam, J., in Ahobilachariar and Others Vs. Thulasi Ammal and Others, that if the
lands were not enjoyed separately it is open to us to look into the document under which they agreed it should be divided. There is no difficulty in
determining apart from Ex. L what other properties each of the parties was entitled to share in. Exhibit K gives all the items of the property divided.
We do not think that the claim as regards the D schedule properties should fail. I think Ex. L can be looked into, to determine what the properties
were, that fell to each share. So far as the alternative claim for partition is concerned, there is no necessity for a fresh partition, as the D schedule
properties fell to the share of the plaintiff and there is no question of a fresh partition being decreed. There is, therefore, no force in the contention
that Gopalakrishnayya is a necessary party to the suit and that the suit should fail for non-joinder.
There is, however, a petition by Gopalakrishnayya that he should be added as a party to the suit and that the suit should be sent back for trial
after allowing him an opportunity of stating his defence to the plaintiff''s claim. This is Civil Revision Petition No. 866 of 1926. The main ground is,
that, the suit being one for partition, Gopalakrishnayya ought to have been made a party. We may state that so far as Gopalakrishnayya is
concerned he withdrew any objection he had to the sale-deed so long ago as 1917. Until this suit was filed, he has taken no steps to set aside the
transaction. In the meantime, Narasimham the purchaser became insolvent and the Official Receiver sold the properties and they have been
purchased by the present plaintiff. It is not suggested before us that the plaintiff had any notice that Narasimham acquired no title. The question
whether Gopalakrishnayya is a necessary party would depend on whether there was anything in the present suit by which Gopalakrishnayya could
claim any equity. There is no property in which Gopalakrishnayya has an interest. There is no hardship in the present matter except the possible
hardship that Gopalakrishnayya would be prevented from impeaching the validity of his sale-deed. But as stated before, he admitted the validity of
the sale-deed in 1917. We do not think this is a case where any indulgence could be shown. The difference between a necessary and proper party
is well known. A man may be a proper party as his presence may be desirable to bind him and prevent a multiplicity of actions or effectually to
decide the equities between the parties and if the plaintiff joined him there can be no plea of misjoinder of parties. But a necessary party is one
whose absence would entail dismissal of the suit for nonjoinder. In all these cases what the Courts ought to see is whether there is anything which
cannot be determined owing to his absence or whether a third person will be prejudiced by his not being joined as a party. It is not suggested
before us that any equity remains to be adjudged in this suit between plaintiff and Gopalakrishnayya. u/s 115 of the Civil Procedure Code, we do
not think that we shall be justified in saying that the lower Court acted with material irregularity or want of jurisdiction in not allowing
Gopalakrishnayya to come on record. There are no equities in Gopalakrishnayya''s favour so far as this suit is concerned. If his remedy by suit is
not barred by limitation he can file a suit and get the appropriate reliefs.
As regards the amount payable by 1st defendant we think that the contention of the appellant is sound and the mesne profits for 1920 to 1922
ought not to be taken into account. What the plaintiff wants is his share which has been transferred to him by the Official Receiver. That transfer
was in 1922 and it does not appear from the deed that on transfer anything has been reserved. The Official Receiver is entitled to the mesne profits
for those two years. The proper course would be only to allow the set-off from the date of transfer to the plaintiff. There is no dispute as to the
figures and that can be easily worked out. With this modification the second appeal is dismissed and as the appellant has substantially failed in this
appeal, it is dismissed with costs.
The civil revision petition is also dismissed with costs.
Reilly, J.
In this suit the plaintiff sued for recovery of the D schedule property that had fallen to him in an alleged partition in 1917, or, in the alternative, for
a new partition. So far as the suit was one for a new partition, Mr. Satyanarayana Rao for defendant No. 1 contends that Gopalakrishnayya was a
necessary party and that the suit could not go on without him. On that point I do not wish to express any opinion on this occasion. Mr. Raghava
Rao who appears for the plaintiff, did not argue that aspect of the case, as he rested the plaintiff''s case on the old partition of 1917. There I think
he was on safe ground. So far as the suit is for recovery of the D schedule property on the basis of the old partition Gopalakrishnayya is not a
necessary party. To prove the partition of 1917, Exs. K, K-1 and L have been produced. I agree that Exs. K, and K-1 are admissible in
evidence. They were executed on the same day and must be treated as parts of the same transaction, and they clearly do not amount to documents
effecting partition. They refer to an intention that a regular partition deed should be drawn up and registered later. Exhibits K and K-1 show that
the present defendant, Ramakrishnayya took one-third of the property, leaving the other two thirds for Nagabhushanam and Gopalakrishnayya''s
vendee, Narasimham, undivided. Exhibit L has been produced to show that 8 days later there was an actual division between Nagabhushanam and
Narasimham. I doubt whether Ex. L is an admissible document. Mr. Raghave Rao argues that at any rate we can look into it because the division
which it describes has been partly performed. There is evidence that the house, which was one of the items left by Exs. K and K-1 to
Nogabhushanam and Narasimham, was divided between them and that from 2nd July, 1917, that is, from the date of Exs. K and K-1,
Narasimham enjoyed half the rent of that house. That is in accordance with Ex. L. But I doubt whether it has been shown satisfactorily that it was
under Ex. L and Ex L alone that he was so receiving the rent. However there is evidence, which has been accepted by both Courts, that the
division under Exs. K. and K-1 was acted upon by Ramakrishnayya and that he took his one-third of the property in that division. He cannot be
heard now to dispute the fact that Nagabhushanam and Narasimham took the remaining two-thirds of the property on the occasion of that division.
For the purpose of this case it does not matter even if we are left doubtful by the documents which part of the two-thirds fell to Narasimham and
which to Nagabhushanam. Nagabhushanam''s vendee defendant No. 8, is a party to the suit, and he does not dispute that the D schedule property
was allotted to Narasimham and so came to the plaintiff. Ramakrishnayya, therefore, cannot dispute the plaintiff''s right to the D schedule property
in which he has no interest under the division.
But Mr. Satyanarayana Rao has contended that the mortgage suit which his client brought in August, 1917, in its result has put the plaintiff and
his vendor out of Court. The property was subject to two mortgages when the partition under Exs. K and K-1 was made. Defendant No. 1, that
is, Ramakrishnayya sued to redeem the property making his brothers Nagabhushanam and Gopalakrishnayya and Gopalakrishnayya''s vendee,
Narasimham, parties. In that suit a decree for redemption was eventually made in favour of the three brothers leaving Narasimham out of account.
So far as the wording of the decree goes, the result of that is that Narasimham could not redeem the property under that decree. And it appears
that there was no appeal against the omission to make the redemption decree run in his favour also. Mr. Satyanarayana Rao contends that the
result of that is that Narasimham has lost all his rights to that property. I think that is clearly not so. Narasimham''s right to the property, that is,
Gopalakrishnayya''s share of the property, was not negatived in that suit. Gopalakrishnayya at first disputed Narasimham''s right by purchase from
him; but he afterwards definitely and explicitly withdrew his opposition to Narasimham in that suit. After that it was not necessary for the Court to
decide in that suit any question between Gopalakrishnayya and Narasimham with regard to the property. No question between them was actually
decided. Still less was it necessary for the Court to decide any question between Ramakrishnayya and Narasimham on that occasion. The result of
the decree as framed was that Ramakrishnayya or Nagabhushanam or Gopalakrishnayya could redeem the property; and in fact Ramakrishnayya
redeemed it and got possession in 1920. After that either Nagabhushanam or Gopalakrishnayya could have got his share from Ramakrishnayya on
payment of what was due from him to clear off Ramakrishnayya''s charge on the property. If after that Gopalakrishnayya had transferred his right
to Narasimham, Narasimham could have recovered that share from Ramakrishnayya. Does it make any difference that Narasimham had acquired
Gopalakrishnayya''s share before the date of the decree? It can make a difference only if we suppose that the omission of Narasimham''s name
from the decree cut off his rights under the transfer. It is perfectly clear that the District Munsif in deciding that suit did not intend his decree to have
that effect at all; and the parties who were before him could have had no idea that that was likely to be its effect. Indeed I see from the record that
Nagabhushanam and Narasimham appeared by the same Pleader. The parties appear to have treated Narasimham as simply standing in
Gopalakrishnayya''s shoes. I see no obstacle in the decree in that suit to the plaintiff now recovering his share of the property on payment of his or
Gopalakrishnayya''s share of the mortgage-money and interest to Ramakrishnayya.
On the question of mesne profits and interest I agree to the modification of the decree proposed by my learned brother. I agree that in other
respects the appeal must be dismissed with costs and that the revision petition also must be dismissed with costs.