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(Parambarathil) Pattukkayal Chakutti v. Kothembra Chandukutti
Factual and Procedural Background
The appellants, sons of defendant 2, belong to the Thiyyas of Calicut governed by the Makkathayam Law. The original suit (O.S 1258 of 1916) was instituted by defendant 1 against defendant 2 and his deceased brother Kelan, resulting in a money decree against defendant 2 personally and defendants 3-5, the wife and children of Kelan. Execution of this decree led to attachment of family properties in possession of defendant 2. The appellants filed a suit seeking a declaration that these properties are not liable to attachment and sale for the decree. The lower courts dismissed their suit, holding against the appellants. The appellants then filed this second appeal challenging the attachment on the ground that the suit property is impartible under the Makkathayam Law applicable to the Thiyyas of Calicut.
Legal Issues Presented
- Whether the suit property is impartible under the customary Makkathayam Law governing the Thiyyas of Calicut and thus not liable to attachment and sale for the decree.
- Whether the decision in Raman Menon v. Chatunni is a general binding precedent applicable to all Thiyya families regarding impartibility and compulsory partition.
- The applicability and presumption of Hindu Law rules versus customary law rules in the absence of satisfactory evidence on the customary law governing the parties.
Arguments of the Parties
Appellants' Arguments
- The appellants contended that the suit property is impartible under the Makkathayam Law, which governs their community.
- They relied primarily on the decision in Raman Menon v. Chatunni to support the claim that the property could not be attached or sold.
The opinion does not contain a detailed account of the respondents' legal arguments.
Table of Precedents Cited
| Precedent | Rule or Principle Cited For | Application by the Court |
|---|---|---|
| Raman Menon v. Chatunni | Addressed whether compulsory partition applies under Makkathayam Law among Thiyyas; held that the ordinary Marumakkathayam rule against compulsory partition was applied but this was confined to case facts. | The court held this precedent should not be considered generally applicable to all Thiyya families and emphasized the need for evidence on customary law rather than reliance on this decision alone. |
| Rarichan v. Parachi | Established that in absence of evidence of special custom, Hindu law applies; also discussed presumption regarding customary law. | The court clarified that the presumption is that Hindu law rules apply only when no satisfactory evidence of a different customary law is produced, and this case supports taking fresh evidence to determine the applicable customary law. |
| Valu v. Channu | Clarified that the rule of partibility under Hindu law does not necessarily apply to Iluvans of Palghat, distinguishing them from Thiyyas. | Supported the view that the decision in Raman Menon v. Chatunni is not universally binding even among related communities. |
| Imbiehi Kandan v. Imbachi Pennu | Confirmed that questions of customary law require fresh evidence and findings by lower courts. | Referenced to support the approach of determining the rule of customary law through evidence rather than presumption. |
| Thaikandhi Pokkencheri v. Illivathukkal Achuthan | Discussed the presumption of Hindu law governing unless contrary custom is proved. | The court expressed dissent from any interpretation that Hindu law governs all matters without regard to customary law. |
| Fanindra Deb Raikat v. Rajeswar Das | Held that family customs can override general Hindu law in succession matters when proven. | Supported the principle that the question is what law governs the parties on the particular point, not simply the general Hindu law. |
| Raman v. Muthu | Raised the issue of applicability of special customs versus Hindu law under Madras Civil Courts Act, S.16. | Highlighted that the court is not bound to apply Hindu law if customary law with force of law exists. |
Court's Reasoning and Analysis
The court examined the applicability of the Makkathayam customary law governing the Thiyyas of Calicut in relation to the question of impartibility and compulsory partition of family property. It found that the earlier decision in Raman Menon v. Chatunni was limited to the facts of that case and not a general precedent for all Thiyya families. The court emphasized that where the rule of customary law is not clearly established by satisfactory evidence, the presumption is that the Hindu law rule of partibility applies. The court rejected the appellants' reliance solely on the Raman Menon decision without evidence of a contrary custom. It further clarified that the presumption in favor of Hindu law is not absolute and that the question must be determined by examining the customary law as evidenced in each case. The court approved the approach of taking fresh evidence and making findings on customary law as seen in precedents such as Rarichan v. Parachi and Imbiehi Kandan v. Imbachi Pennu. Ultimately, the court found no satisfactory evidence that the suit property was impartible under the parties' customary law and held that the Hindu law rule of partibility, including compulsory partition, applies.
Holding and Implications
DISMISSED
The court confirmed the decrees of the lower courts dismissing the appellants' suit. The direct effect is that the suit property is liable to attachment and sale under the decree, applying the Hindu law rule of partibility in the absence of evidence to the contrary under customary law. No new precedent was established; rather, the decision reinforces the principle that customary law must be proven by satisfactory evidence and that Hindu law rules apply presumptively where such evidence is lacking.
1. The parties to this second appeal are Thiyyas of Calicut following the Makkathayam Law. The sons of defendant 2 are the appellants.
2. In a suit instituted by the defendant 1 against the defendant 2 and his deceased brother Kelan (O.S 1258 of 1916) he obtained a money decree against the defendant 2 personally and against defendants 3-5, the wife and children of the deceased Kelan. In execution of that decree he attached the family properties in possession of defendant 2. This second appeal arises out of the suit instituted by the appellants for a declaration that the properties attached for the decree in O.S 1258 of 1916 are not liable to be attached and sold for that decree. The lower Courts overruled the appellants' contention and dismissed their suit. In second appeal it is argued that the suit property is impartible according to the Makkathayam Law governing the Thiyyas of Calicut and is not liable to be attached and sold. The question whether the property is impartible or not was not raised by the plaintiffs as a point for decision either in the pleadings or in the issues; but in support of the argument that the suit property is impartible the learned vakil for the appellants relied here, as in the Court below on the decision in Raman Menon v. Chatunni(1). It is no doubt true that the parties to this suit are, as in Raman Menon v. Chatunni, Makkathayam Thiyyas of Calicut, but we think that decision must be confined to the facts and circumstances in that particular case and ought not to be understood as a decision applicable generally to all the Thiyya families. In that case, the plaintiff alleged that according to the customary law prevailing among the Thiyyas, the defendant 1 was entitled to a definite share in the property, and the defendants pleaded that the properties were indivisible. The issue raised was vague and the evidence adduced was inconclusive and the witnesses were not even asked the real question at issue. But the Subordinate Judge on the authority of two unreported cases came to the conclusion that the ordinary rule of Marumakkathayam against compulsory partition was equally applicable to Thiyyas who followed Makkathayam. In second appeal Muthuswami Iyer and Best JJ, observed that it should not have been decided in that way and they framed an issue viz.
3. Whether according to the customary law followed by the parties to this suit compulsory partition can be effected according to the wish of one member of the tarwad.
and called for a finding on it after taking fresh evidence. In compliance with the said order the Subordinate Judge held that there was no presumption that the Hindu Law of partibility of family property applied to the case of Makkathayam Thiyyas quoting, Rarichan v. Parachi(2) as authority for that position, that there was no written evidence in support of Such a custom and that the oral evidence was quite unsatisfactory or insufficient to establish any such alleged custom of compulsory partition and returned a finding in the negative. The learned Judges simply accepted that finding in second appeal and did not independently consider the question themselves. In view of the fact that the finding was not arrived at co-any satisfactory evidence in the case and that even the Subordinate Judge's reading of the decision in Rarichan v. Parachi is not quite correct, as we shall presently show, we think that Raman Menon v. Chathunni should not be considered as a decision generally applicable to all families among Thiyyas. The same view has been expressed in Second Appeal 580 of 1917 by Phillips and Krishnan, JJ., though by way of obiter. This is what the learned judges state:
We would only observe that it is questionable whether a single decision in Raman Menon v. Chathunni can be Slid to be a final decision binding on all Thiyyas of Calicut.
4. The decision in Valu v. Channu(3), that the case of Raman Menon v. Chathunni relating to the Thiyyas could not be taken to lay down that rule of partibility does not prerail among the Iluvans of Palghat, even assuming that the Iluvans and the Thiyyas had at one time been of one class also, lends support to our view.
5. We think the Makkathayam Thiyyas are governed by, what is called the customary law and that when a question arises as to what is the rule of law governing them on any particular matter, what we have to see is what is the rule of customary law obtaining amongst them in the matter and in case which are not sufficiently governed by prior decisions, the question will have to be determined with reference to the evidence in the case, Vide Rarichan v. Parachi Raman Menon v. Chatunni Kunhi Pemmu v. Chiruda(4) in each of which a specific issue was raised as to what is the rule of the customary law on the particular question at, issue and the lower Court was asked to submit a finding after taking fresh evidence on it. See also Imbiehi Kandan v. Imbachi Pennu(5) where the learned Judges observe that the Subordinate Judge was right in laying down that the question for decision was whether according to the law and custom followed by Makkathayam Thiyyas of Calicut, property of a deceased person.
6. In the absence of any satisfactory, evidence to show what exactly is the rule of the customary law on any particular point, the rule of Hindu law on that point must, we think, be presumed and adopted to be the rule of the customary law obtaining amongst the community on that point. The presumption is not that the Hindu Law a such is the law governing them in all matters; if that be the presumption a person who alleges a rule of customary law at variance with it will have to prove it as a custom in derogation of the law. The presumption is simply that the rule of the Hindu Law is also the rule of the customary law obtaining amongst them, so that if any person alleges that the rule of the customary law on any particular point is something different, the evidence that he adduces in support of his allegation ought not to be subjected to those well known teats which are applied to the case of an alleged custom contrary to or in derogation of the law, but should be viewed simply as evidence adduced to show what is the rule of the customary law itself. The presumption therefore will be useful and will hold good only if satisfactory evidence is not forthcoming as to what is the rule of the customary law. If the learned Judges in Thaikandhi Pokkencheri v. Illivathukkal Achuthan(6), or S.A 2092 of 1920 intended to lay down that the Hindu Law as such governs the community in all matters and that a person alleging a contrary rule of law must prove it as a custom opposed to or in derogation of the law, we must with due respect, express our dissent from them.
7. We respectfully agree with the observations of the learned Judges in Rarichan v. Perachi, on the point under consideration. In that case a person died leaving some self-acquired property and his brother claimed to succeed to it in preference to the widow. He adduced satisfactory evidence to show that according to the customary law prevailing amongst the parties the brother succeeds in preference to the widow. The Munsif decreed the suit in favour of the brother; but the District Judge reversed his decree on the assumption that the Hindu law applied to the parties in all matters and that any other custom alleged must be proved as a custom in derogation of the law. The High Court in Second Appeal observed that is not the correct view and that the only question is what is the law governing the parties on the particular matter and called for a fresh finding. In compliance with the said order, the District Judge on a consideration of the evidence agreed with the Munsif that according to the customary law governing the parties the brother succeeded in preference to the widow and the said finding was accepted in second appeal. In this connexion reference might also be made to the well-known decision of the Judicial Committee, Fanindra Deb Raikat v. Rajeswar Das(7). In that case the question was whether in a family which their Lordships of the Privy Council held to be not governed by the ordinary Hindu Law, there was a family custom which did not allow an adopted son to inherit. On the evidence adduced in that case it was held by the Privy Council that the custom referred to above was proved. As regards the question for consideration, their Lordships observed that the question was not whether the general Hindu Law was modified by a family custom forbidding adoption and as regards the evidence relating to custom, their Lordships observed as follows:
whether, if the Baikantapur family were shown to have become Hindus out and out saving only special customs, such evidence would be sufficient to prove a special custom, need not be discussed here. The family is in a totally different position and their Lordships have no hesitation in holding that whatever Hindu customs may have been introduced into it, the custom of succession by adoption has not been introduced.
8. These observations also clearly support the view we have expressed above.
9. Oldfield, J., in Raman v. Muthu(8), with whom Hughes, J., agreed is not apparently prepared to accept Rarichan v. Perachi, as laying down the correct law, mainly on the ground that neither Rarichan v. Perachi, nor any of the cases in Raman Menon v. Chathunni, Imbichi Kandan v. Imbachi Pennu, and Kunhi Pennu v. Chirudu, in all of which Rarichan v. Parachi is referred to with approval, mentions S. 16 of Act 3 of 1873 (the Madras Civil Courts Act) and that by virtue of that section, in the absence of proof of special custom, Hindu law has to be administered to Hindus. S. 16 only says that where in any suit or proceeding, it is necessary for any Court to decide any question, (a) the Mahomedan law in cases where the parties are Mahomedana and the Hindu law in cases where the parties are Hindus; or (b) any custom (if such there be) having the force of law and governing the parties or property concerned, shall form the rule of decision.
10. We think that the expression “any custom having the force of law” is wide enough to include the customary law which governs such communities and that we are not therefore bound to apply to them the ordinary Hindu Law as such. The cases above referred to clearly hold—and we think rightly—that the question in each case is what is the rule of the customary law on the particular point arising for decision and this position does not in any way contravene the provisions of S. 16 of Act 3 of 1873.
11. We may also observe that Rarichan v. Perachi does not say that there is no presumption that the rule of Hindu law on any particular point is the rule of the customary law governing the Thiyya community on that point. All that it says is that if satisfactory evidence is produced to show shat the rule of the customary law is otherwise, effect should be given to it.
12. In the present case the appellants simply relied upon the decision in Raman Menon v. Chathunni, in support of their contention that the family property is impartible and have not adduced any evidence to show that property is impartible according to the customary law of the parties. As we pointed out above, the case in Raman Menon v. Chathunni, cannot be held to be a general decision applicable to all the Thiyya families. As the plaintiffs have not adduced any satisfactory evidence to show that the rule of customary law on this point is anything other than the Hindu Law rule of partibility, wo must hold that the presumption, that the Hindu Law rule of partibility is also the rule of the customary law, holds goad and that the rule of compulsory partition therefore applies to the present case. In the result we confirm the decrees of the lower Courts and dismiss this second appeal with costs.
13. Appeal dismissed.
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