{"id":240685,"date":"2008-06-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-06-23T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/mary-vs-saleena-on-24-june-2008"},"modified":"2014-03-18T01:15:11","modified_gmt":"2014-03-17T19:45:11","slug":"mary-vs-saleena-on-24-june-2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/mary-vs-saleena-on-24-june-2008","title":{"rendered":"Mary vs Saleena on 24 June, 2008"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"docsource_main\">Kerala High Court<\/div>\n<div class=\"doc_title\">Mary vs Saleena on 24 June, 2008<\/div>\n<pre>       \n\n  \n\n  \n\n \n \n  IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM\n\nRSA.No. 130 of 2005()\n\n\n1. MARY, W\/O. LATE OUSEPH PETER, AGED 72,\n                      ...  Petitioner\n2. K.A.ELIZABETH, W\/O.LATE JOSEPH,\n3. T.J.ANTONY, S\/O. LATE JOSEPH,\n4. T.J.AUGUSTINE JOHN,\n5. T.J.LOURD, D\/O. LATE JOSEPH, AGED 38,\n6. T.J.MARY, D\/O. LATE JOSEPH, AGED 36,\n7. T.J.JELTHROUGHDHU,\n8. T.J.HENTRY ROY, S\/O. LATE JOSEPH,\n9. SELEENA VARGHESE (DIED),\n10. T.V.ANTONY, S\/O. LATE VARGHESE,\n11. LILLY, W\/O. LATE T.V.JOSEPH,\n12. KUMARI LIPSY, (MINOR),\n13. UMARI PEKSHY, (MINOR),\n14. T.V.JOHN, S\/O. LATE VARGHESE,\n15. CHRISTHU RAJ, S\/O. LATE VARGHESE,\n16. T.V.VARKEY, S\/O. LATE VARGHESE,\n17. BREGIT, D\/O. LATE VARGHESE, AGED 42,\n18. MARY, W\/O. LATE FRANCIS, AGED 45,\n19. CRAMEENA BREGITH, D\/O. FRANCIS,\n20. ESTHER ANSI, D\/O. FRANCIS,\n\n                        Vs\n\n\n\n1. SALEENA, W\/O. RAPHEL (ALIAS)\n                       ...       Respondent\n\n2. RAFI, S\/O. RAPHEL (ALIAS) PETER,\n\n3. JOSE S\/O. RAPHEL, AGED 36 YEARS,\n\n4. MILTON S\/O. RAPHEL, AGED 30 YEARS,\n\n5. ANNY D\/O. RAPHEL, AGED 42 YEARS,\n\n6. BEENA D\/O. RAPHEL, AGED 28 YEARS,\n\n7. MRS.SILVESTOR SHERLY, W\/O. SILVESTOR,\n\n8. MRS.MARIA LEISSE,\n\n9. RITA W\/O. LATE ANTONY, AGED 45,\n\n10. ALLEN S\/O. LATE ANTONY,\n\n                For Petitioner  :SRI.RAJU ABRAHAM PULPARA\n\n                For Respondent  :SMT.P.R.LESLIE STEPHEN\n\nThe Hon'ble MR. Justice K.P.BALACHANDRAN\n\n Dated :24\/06\/2008\n\n O R D E R\n              K.P.BALACHANDRAN, J.\n          ------------------------------------------------\n                   R. S. A. No.130 of 2005\n          ------------------------------------------------\n           Dated this the 24th day of June, 2008\n\n                         JUDGMENT\n<\/pre>\n<p>    The plaintiffs in O.S.1380\/99 on the file<\/p>\n<p>of the Munsiff&#8217;s Court, Ernakulam who lost<\/p>\n<p>their case in the first appellate court as the<\/p>\n<p>first  appellate        court        reversed            the decree<\/p>\n<p>passed by the trial court and dismissed the<\/p>\n<p>suit, have preferred this R.S.A.<\/p>\n<p>    2. Appellants filed O.S.1380\/99 aforesaid<\/p>\n<p>for  a  decree       for       partition             and    separate<\/p>\n<p>possession of their 4\/5 share in the scheduled<\/p>\n<p>property  alleging             inter          alia        that  the<\/p>\n<p>scheduled  property            was        purchased         by  one<\/p>\n<p>Vruschy  who    was       the      mother          of     the first<\/p>\n<p>plaintiff and mother-in-law of plaintiffs 2, 9<\/p>\n<p>and 18 as also the first defendant as per<\/p>\n<p>Ext.A1 sale deed of the year 1957; that the<\/p>\n<p>said property has got an extent of 11.25 cents<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -2-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      comprised         in Sy. No.1070\/1  of  Cheranallur<\/p>\n<p>      Village;          that  after   purchase,   Vruschy<\/p>\n<p>      constructed         a building  in   the scheduled<\/p>\n<p>      property         which  was   numbered  with   Door<\/p>\n<p>      No.1536\/47; that after construction of the<\/p>\n<p>      building her eldest son Raphel alias Peter who<\/p>\n<p>      was the husband of the first defendant was<\/p>\n<p>      permitted to reside therein with his family;<\/p>\n<p>      that Raphel died and his wife and children are<\/p>\n<p>      defendants 1 to 6 and they continued to reside<\/p>\n<p>      in the said building with the permission of<\/p>\n<p>      the plaintiffs; that deceased Vruschy had four<\/p>\n<p>      sons and one daughter that the children of<\/p>\n<p>      Vruschy are entitled to get equal shares over<\/p>\n<p>      the scheduled property and they are co-owners<\/p>\n<p>      along with the defendants and despite demand<\/p>\n<p>      for        partition,   the  defendants  were  not<\/p>\n<p>      agreeable and they also committed waste in the<\/p>\n<p>      property so as to defeat the interests of the<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -3-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      plaintiffs and hence, plaintiffs 18 to 20<\/p>\n<p>      filed O.S.365\/99 seeking prohibitory injunction<\/p>\n<p>      restraining defendants 1 to 6 from committing<\/p>\n<p>      acts of waste and alienation of the property<\/p>\n<p>      and other reliefs; that injunction was granted<\/p>\n<p>      in the said suit; that even after the said<\/p>\n<p>      suit,         the  demand of  the plaintiffs for<\/p>\n<p>      partition of the scheduled property was not<\/p>\n<p>      acceded to by the defendants and hence, the<\/p>\n<p>      suit.\n<\/p>\n<p>              3. Defendants 1 to 10 filed a written<\/p>\n<p>      statement contending that the first defendant<\/p>\n<p>      is having exclusive ownership of the scheduled<\/p>\n<p>      property by virtue of a will executed by<\/p>\n<p>      Vruschy on 30\/11\/1969; that though Vruschy<\/p>\n<p>      purchased the scheduled property as per Ext.A1<\/p>\n<p>      sale          deed,  the  building  therein  was<\/p>\n<p>      constructed utilising the funds of the first<\/p>\n<p>      defendant;         that  she  got the   help  of<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005            -4-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      Vimalalayam,          a   religious  and   charitable<\/p>\n<p>      institution at Ernakulam for construction of<\/p>\n<p>      the       said     building; that   herself and  her<\/p>\n<p>      husband and children were residing in the said<\/p>\n<p>      building for which permission of the plaintiff<\/p>\n<p>      was not required; that the first defendant<\/p>\n<p>      became          the  absolute   owner  and   was  in<\/p>\n<p>      possession         and  enjoyment  of  the scheduled<\/p>\n<p>      property from the date of death of Vruschy;<\/p>\n<p>      that plaintiffs and defendants 7 to 10 have no<\/p>\n<p>      right to inherit the scheduled property and<\/p>\n<p>      they are not co-owners; that they are not<\/p>\n<p>      committing any act of waste in the property;<\/p>\n<p>      that the plaintiffs have no cause of action<\/p>\n<p>      and that the suit has to be dismissed.<\/p>\n<p>              4. On the above pleadings, the trial<\/p>\n<p>      court raised necessary issues for trial and<\/p>\n<p>      after         trial   and  considering  the evidence<\/p>\n<p>      adduced          at trial  which  consisted of   oral<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -5-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      evidence of PWs.1 to 3 and DWs.1 and 2 and<\/p>\n<p>      documentary evidence of Exts.A1 to A3 and B1<\/p>\n<p>      decreed the suit allowing partition of the<\/p>\n<p>      scheduled property by metes and bounds and<\/p>\n<p>      allotment of separate possession of plaintiffs<\/p>\n<p>      4\/5 share in the scheduled property and the<\/p>\n<p>      building therein. The decree of the trial<\/p>\n<p>      court was assailed in appeal by defendants 1<\/p>\n<p>      to 8 filing A.S.121\/02 before the district<\/p>\n<p>      court,         Ernakulam and  the appellate court<\/p>\n<p>      allowed the appeal setting aside the decree<\/p>\n<p>      and judgment passed by the trial court and<\/p>\n<p>      dismissed the suit. Hence, this R.S.A by the<\/p>\n<p>      aggrieved plaintiffs.\n<\/p>\n<p>              5. It is vehemently contended before me<\/p>\n<p>      by the learned counsel for the appellants that<\/p>\n<p>      Ext.B1 will is not genuine and is concocted<\/p>\n<p>      and the first appellate court should not have<\/p>\n<p>      upheld the will in which event the property<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005           -6-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      would have been partible as has been found by<\/p>\n<p>      the trial court and that in the circumstances,<\/p>\n<p>      the trial court decree be restored allowing<\/p>\n<p>      the       R.S.A   and  that   substantial questions<\/p>\n<p>      regarding         the  validity  of   the will   as<\/p>\n<p>      formulated in the appeal memorandum do arise<\/p>\n<p>      for consideration in this R.S.A. It is also<\/p>\n<p>      contended          that   there    are   suspicious<\/p>\n<p>      circumstances attending execution of the will<\/p>\n<p>      and that the defendants not effecting mutation<\/p>\n<p>      after 30 years will show that the will was not<\/p>\n<p>      in existence and was being made up later so as<\/p>\n<p>      to advance exclusive title over the scheduled<\/p>\n<p>      property.\n<\/p>\n<p>              6. I have carefully gone through the<\/p>\n<p>      judgments of the trial court and the first<\/p>\n<p>      appellate court. It is not in dispute and it<\/p>\n<p>      cannot be gainsaid either that if Ext.B1 will<\/p>\n<p>      is found to be not genuine the scheduled<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005            -7-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      property         and  the  building  therein  becomes<\/p>\n<p>      partible, the plaintiffs and defendants being<\/p>\n<p>      co-owners on the death of Vruschy intestate.<\/p>\n<p>      So the material question to be adjudged is the<\/p>\n<p>      question as to whether Ext.B1 will is genuine<\/p>\n<p>      or not. In this context as rightly observed by<\/p>\n<p>      the first appellate court what is to be given<\/p>\n<p>      utmost           importance  for   considering    the<\/p>\n<p>      genuineness or otherwise of the will is the<\/p>\n<p>      evidence tendered by PW3 the first plaintiff<\/p>\n<p>      and DW2 sister Thresiamma George who was the<\/p>\n<p>      custodian         of  the  will.  PW3 is   the  first<\/p>\n<p>      plaintiff. She is the only surviving daughter<\/p>\n<p>      of deceased Vruschy. The other children of<\/p>\n<p>      Vruschy were males and are no more. Both PW3<\/p>\n<p>      and DW2 are of the same age group being aged<\/p>\n<p>      more than 70 years at the time of tendering<\/p>\n<p>      the evidence and they were rightly found by<\/p>\n<p>      the        first    appellate   court  as   competent<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005           -8-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      witnesses now available to tell about past<\/p>\n<p>      events as the other witnesses are not persons<\/p>\n<p>      who can be said to have knowledge of matters<\/p>\n<p>      that took place prior to 30 years namely of<\/p>\n<p>      matters pertaining to period from 1957 onwards<\/p>\n<p>      and during 1969 when the will was executed.<\/p>\n<p>              7. Ext.B1 is the copy of the will alleged<\/p>\n<p>      to      have     been executed  by the Vruschy on<\/p>\n<p>      30\/11\/69.         First  attestor of the will  is<\/p>\n<p>      Illiparambil Joseph Mani of Vaduthala and the<\/p>\n<p>      second attestor is sister Thresiamma George of<\/p>\n<p>      Vimalalayam. The contention of the respondents<\/p>\n<p>      is that Ext.B1 was created on a later date by<\/p>\n<p>      the first defendant and her children to defeat<\/p>\n<p>      the rights of the respondents. As observed by<\/p>\n<p>      the first appellate court, it is true that at<\/p>\n<p>      the         first    blush  there  are  suspicious<\/p>\n<p>      circumstances surrounding the execution of the<\/p>\n<p>      will inasmuch as testator has bequeathed the<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005           -9-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      property in favour of first defendant the wife<\/p>\n<p>      of her eldest son Raphel alias Peter at a time<\/p>\n<p>      when Raphel himself was alive and further that<\/p>\n<p>      it      is      seen executed  in favour of  first<\/p>\n<p>      defendant to the exclusion of also three other<\/p>\n<p>      sons of Vruschy namely Joseph, Varghese and<\/p>\n<p>      Francis and the one and only daughter of<\/p>\n<p>      Vruschy namely the first plaintiff. It is true<\/p>\n<p>      that in the normal course one would not expect<\/p>\n<p>      the testator executing such a will excluding<\/p>\n<p>      all her children and executing will to one of<\/p>\n<p>      the daughters-in-law only. But all the same,<\/p>\n<p>      the       first    appellate court found that  the<\/p>\n<p>      reasons for executing the will exclusively to<\/p>\n<p>      the first defendant were explained also in<\/p>\n<p>      Ext.B1. Such recitals are to the effect that<\/p>\n<p>      for purchase of the property covered by the<\/p>\n<p>      will the first defendant had advanced money.<\/p>\n<p>      Further with the help of Vimalalayam sisters<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -10-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      the first defendant constructed the house in<\/p>\n<p>      the property. The first defendant, her husband<\/p>\n<p>      Raphel and her children were residing in the<\/p>\n<p>      property.          Of the  aforesaid reasons, the<\/p>\n<p>      defendants dispute all the statements except<\/p>\n<p>      that the first defendant, her husband and her<\/p>\n<p>      children were residing in the building in the<\/p>\n<p>      scheduled property. They also point out that<\/p>\n<p>      in the written statement of defendants 1 to 6<\/p>\n<p>      they have not advanced contentions supporting<\/p>\n<p>      such recitals in Ext.B1.\n<\/p>\n<p>              8. It is worthy to note that despite the<\/p>\n<p>      fact that Vruschy died in 1971 there was no<\/p>\n<p>      demand           for partition  advanced  by  the<\/p>\n<p>      plaintiffs till 1997. Even O.S.365\/99 which<\/p>\n<p>      was a suit for injunction restraining the<\/p>\n<p>      defendants from dealing with the property was<\/p>\n<p>      filed only in 1999 and prior thereto it does<\/p>\n<p>      not appear that there was any dispute between<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005           -11-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      the plaintiffs and the defendants or that the<\/p>\n<p>      plaintiffs         have  advanced  any demand for<\/p>\n<p>      partition. It is submitted that the first<\/p>\n<p>      defendant is the widow of eldest son Raphel<\/p>\n<p>      that plaintiffs 2 to 8 are L.R.s of Joseph;<\/p>\n<p>      that plaintiffs 9, 10 and 14 to 17 are L.Rs of<\/p>\n<p>      Varghese and plaintiffs 18 to 20 are L.Rs of<\/p>\n<p>      Francis who were all deceased sons of late<\/p>\n<p>      Vruschy.         The first  plaintiff is the only<\/p>\n<p>      daughter of Vruschy and she was examined as<\/p>\n<p>      PW3. She has disputed the existence of will as<\/p>\n<p>      according to her, Vruschy had told her that<\/p>\n<p>      she had executed document in her favour. She<\/p>\n<p>      admitted in cross examination that she has<\/p>\n<p>      never taken any usufructs from the property<\/p>\n<p>      nor       has    she  shared  any income from the<\/p>\n<p>      scheduled property with the defendants though<\/p>\n<p>      according to her several years back a jack<\/p>\n<p>      fruit tree was cut and taken by her as it was<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -12-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      given to her by her mother. She has however<\/p>\n<p>      denied the signatures seen in Ext.B1 as that<\/p>\n<p>      of      her      mother. All  the  same,   in  cross<\/p>\n<p>      examination she said that the first defendant<\/p>\n<p>      is working in Vimalalayam convent and PW3 used<\/p>\n<p>      to go to the house of the first defendant and<\/p>\n<p>      the building in the scheduled property was<\/p>\n<p>      constructed by the first defendant with the<\/p>\n<p>      help of Vimalalayam sisters. According to her,<\/p>\n<p>      there was also a Tharavad house where her<\/p>\n<p>      father and mother were residing and that was<\/p>\n<p>      their         Kudikidappu  property.  According   to<\/p>\n<p>      PW3\/the first plaintiff, her mother used to<\/p>\n<p>      sign drawing a cross and encircling it and<\/p>\n<p>      that        aspect   also is   corroborated  by  the<\/p>\n<p>      testimony of DW2. PW3 also admitted that four<\/p>\n<p>      cents and house was assigned to the first<\/p>\n<p>      defendant by her mother. Consequently, PW3<\/p>\n<p>      limited          her claim for  partition  over  the<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -13-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      balance seven cents only from out of the<\/p>\n<p>      plaint schedule property. The admissions so<\/p>\n<p>      made by PW3 were not attempted to be explained<\/p>\n<p>      away or clarified in re-examination. It is<\/p>\n<p>      seen from the judgment of the first appellate<\/p>\n<p>      court that realising the difficulty with which<\/p>\n<p>      the defendants were confronted in view of the<\/p>\n<p>      above evidence, affidavits were caused to be<\/p>\n<p>      filed by the first plaintiff and the sixth<\/p>\n<p>      plaintiff who were examined respectively as<\/p>\n<p>      PW3 and PW1 swearing that during evidence PW3<\/p>\n<p>      was in an abnormal mental condition as she was<\/p>\n<p>      a diabetic patient and was suffering from<\/p>\n<p>      blood pressure and she was examined as a last<\/p>\n<p>      witness of the day and due to long waiting and<\/p>\n<p>      strain on her mind she made contradictory<\/p>\n<p>      statements without any foundation whatsoever<\/p>\n<p>      and       that    the statements made by  PW3 is<\/p>\n<p>      erroneous         and against   facts. The  above<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -14-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      affidavits were filed with the specific view<\/p>\n<p>      of      explaining    the  admissions  and  contra-<\/p>\n<p>      dictions brought out in evidence of PW3. As<\/p>\n<p>      observed         by the first  appellate  court  if<\/p>\n<p>      actually PW3 was sick and strained she could<\/p>\n<p>      have requested for time and sought adjournment<\/p>\n<p>      of the case for her evidence. In fact before<\/p>\n<p>      examination of PWs.1 and 2 the witness to be<\/p>\n<p>      examined was PW3 as she was the one who is<\/p>\n<p>      competent to speak to the facts of the case<\/p>\n<p>      and not PWs.1 and 2. The affidavits caused to<\/p>\n<p>      be      filed     by PWs.1  and  3  explaining the<\/p>\n<p>      mistakes         in cross  examination  cannot  be<\/p>\n<p>      countenanced        as the   proper  method is   to<\/p>\n<p>      clarify things in re-examination and that was<\/p>\n<p>      not resorted to.\n<\/p>\n<p>              9. As regards the proof of will it has<\/p>\n<p>      been stated that the first attesting witness<\/p>\n<p>      Joseph         Mani is  not  examined.  The  second<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -15-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      attestor DW2 gave evidence in support of the<\/p>\n<p>      case of the defendants. She is an aged nun and<\/p>\n<p>      a social worker in Vimalalayam convent at<\/p>\n<p>      Ernakulam at the relevant time. At the time of<\/p>\n<p>      tendering evidence she was aged 70 years and<\/p>\n<p>      was working as mother superior in Mariyalayam<\/p>\n<p>      convent          at Panangad.  According  to  her,<\/p>\n<p>      deceased Vruschy was working in Vimalalayam<\/p>\n<p>      and the first defendant and 18th plaintiff were<\/p>\n<p>      also       working  there.  She  has  deposed that<\/p>\n<p>      Ext.B1 was executed by Vruschy in 1969 and it<\/p>\n<p>      was attested by her and further that the<\/p>\n<p>      health and mental condition of the testator<\/p>\n<p>      was good. It is with DW2 that Ext.B1 was<\/p>\n<p>      entrusted for safe custody and according to<\/p>\n<p>      DW2 it was only four years back that the<\/p>\n<p>      document was given to the first defendant.<\/p>\n<p>      According to DW2, all the children of Vruschy<\/p>\n<p>      had knowledge of the existence of the will.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005         -16-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      The first appellate court has observed that<\/p>\n<p>      DW2 is highly educated and is an MSW degree<\/p>\n<p>      holder and is working as mother superior in a<\/p>\n<p>      convent. She also knows the first plaintiff<\/p>\n<p>      and       DW2    is one who   is having love  and<\/p>\n<p>      affection towards members of the family and<\/p>\n<p>      deceased Vruschy. The plaintiffs could not<\/p>\n<p>      attribute any malafides or ill-will in DW2 so<\/p>\n<p>      as to tender false evidence favouring the<\/p>\n<p>      defendants. According to DW2, Vruschy put her<\/p>\n<p>      signature by drawing a cross and encircling it<\/p>\n<p>      and the shape of the signature of the testator<\/p>\n<p>      is spoken to as being in that fashion by PW3<\/p>\n<p>      as well. In view of the relationship DW2<\/p>\n<p>      maintained         with Vruschy  and  her  family<\/p>\n<p>      members, it is quite probable that Vruschy<\/p>\n<p>      preferred DW2 as one of the attestors. There<\/p>\n<p>      is no merit in the contention that the first<\/p>\n<p>      defendant was preferred by Vruschy to her own<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005          -17-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      son Raphel who is the husband of the first<\/p>\n<p>      defendant. When Ext.B1 will is executed in<\/p>\n<p>      favour of the first defendant who is the wife<\/p>\n<p>      of the eldest son of Vruschy the benefit<\/p>\n<p>      obviously goes to her son and his children<\/p>\n<p>      through          the first defendant.  As rightly<\/p>\n<p>      observed by the first appellate court, there<\/p>\n<p>      was no reason for the trial court having<\/p>\n<p>      ignored the evidence of PW3 and DW2 which if<\/p>\n<p>      properly appreciated would have enabled the<\/p>\n<p>      court to believe their testimony and to uphold<\/p>\n<p>      the       genuineness   of  Ext.B1  will. PW1  as<\/p>\n<p>      observed by the first appellate court is aged<\/p>\n<p>      only 41 years and obviously he has no direct<\/p>\n<p>      knowledge about anything which is relevant for<\/p>\n<p>      adjudication of the matters in issue. Her<\/p>\n<p>      evidence is only on hearsay and has therefore,<\/p>\n<p>      only to be discarded except on matters within<\/p>\n<p>      her direct knowledge when she deposed that the<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005           -18-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      first defendant and family were residing in<\/p>\n<p>      the building ever after its purchase and that<\/p>\n<p>      Vruschy          and  her husband  were  residing  in<\/p>\n<p>      another          building.  PW2  is   a   Corporation<\/p>\n<p>      Councilor. He claims that he was a mediator in<\/p>\n<p>      the dispute between the plaintiffs and the<\/p>\n<p>      defendants and according to him, the existence<\/p>\n<p>      of the will was not told to him. The first<\/p>\n<p>      appellate          court has  rightly  discarded  his<\/p>\n<p>      testimony as he is a C.P.M activist whereas<\/p>\n<p>      DW1 the second defendant is an office bearer<\/p>\n<p>      of      the      Congress Party  and  obviously   his<\/p>\n<p>      evidence will be interested and prejudiced.<\/p>\n<p>              10. The contention advanced before me<\/p>\n<p>      that the original of the will is not produced<\/p>\n<p>      but only a photostat copy thereof is produced<\/p>\n<p>      and       therefore,     it should   not  have   been<\/p>\n<p>      accepted for adjudicating the genuineness is<\/p>\n<p>      also not of merit in the circumstances as<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"hidden_text\">R. S. A. No.130 of 2005       -19-<\/span><\/p>\n<p>      observed by the first appellate court. The<\/p>\n<p>      original will was very much available before<\/p>\n<p>      the trial court in O.S.365\/99 filed by the<\/p>\n<p>      plaintiffs 18 to 20 and at the time of trial<\/p>\n<p>      if at all any of the parties wanted to have it<\/p>\n<p>      brought for consideration in O.S.1380\/99 that<\/p>\n<p>      could have been called for. The non-probating<\/p>\n<p>      of the will set up in defence without it<\/p>\n<p>      having been probated is also no infirmity.<\/p>\n<p>      There is thus, no merit in this R.S.A and no<\/p>\n<p>      question of law and much less any substantial<\/p>\n<p>      question of law arises for consideration in<\/p>\n<p>      this R.S.A.\n<\/p>\n<p>              11. In the result, I dismiss this R.S.A<\/p>\n<p>      in limine refusing admission.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>                                     K.P.BALACHANDRAN,<br \/>\n                                                JUDGE<br \/>\n      kns\/-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kerala High Court Mary vs Saleena on 24 June, 2008 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM RSA.No. 130 of 2005() 1. MARY, W\/O. LATE OUSEPH PETER, AGED 72, &#8230; Petitioner 2. K.A.ELIZABETH, W\/O.LATE JOSEPH, 3. T.J.ANTONY, S\/O. LATE JOSEPH, 4. T.J.AUGUSTINE JOHN, 5. T.J.LOURD, D\/O. LATE JOSEPH, AGED 38, 6. T.J.MARY, D\/O. LATE [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-240685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-high-court","category-kerala-high-court"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mary vs Saleena on 24 June, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; High Court | Legal India<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalindia.com\/judgments\/mary-vs-saleena-on-24-june-2008\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mary vs Saleena on 24 June, 2008 - Free Judgements of Supreme Court &amp; 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