PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS.versusARUL JOTHI SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS

10                      [2019]REPORTS
              SUPREME COURT    9 S.C.R. 10                  [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A              PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS.
                                        v.
           ARUL JOTHI SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS
                     (Civil Appeal Nos.7207-7208 of 2008)
B                                JULY 02, 2019
             [L. NAGESWARA RAO AND M.R. SHAH, JJ.]
            Family Law – Christian Law – Adoption – Share of adopted
     child in the property – One ‘JDA’, died intestate leaving behind his
     wife (defendant no.1), two sons and two daughters, namely, the
C
     appellant-defendant no.2, ‘TKJ’ and ‘V’ (defendant no.3) & late
     ‘M’, the adopted children – After ‘TKJ’ died, her husband and two
     children (plaintiffs) instituted suit for partition of the suit property
     belonging to ‘JDA’, on the ground that ‘TKJ’ had 1/4th share therein
     – ‘M’ died, his widow and daughter were brought on record as
D    defendant nos.4 & 5 – Suit dismissed – Appeals filed by the plaintiffs
     as well defendant nos.3-5 – Allowed by the High Court – Held:
     High Court erred in holding that the plaintiffs would have 1/4th
     share in the suit property being the heirs of deceased ‘TKJ’ – It was
     the specific case of defendant nos.1 & 2 that at the time of marriage
     of ‘TKJ’ with plaintiff no.1, she converted to Hinduism despite
E
     opposition and she was paid Rs.50,000/- and some gold ornaments
     for relinquishing her right, if any, in the suit property belonging to
     ‘JDA’– During her life time, ‘TKJ’ never claimed any share/partition
     in the suit property – Considering the said conduct on the part of
     ‘TKJ’ during her life time, the trial Court rightly accepted the defence
F    of defendant nos.1 & 2 that ‘TKJ’ relinquished her share in the suit
     property – Further, the defendant no.2 even incurred the expenditure
     from his income for the improvement of the property – Part of the
     judgment passed by the High Court holding that plaintiffs shall be
     entitled to 1/4th share in the suit property being heirs of ‘TKJ’, set
     aside – However, submission of the defendant no.2 that appeal at
G
     the instance of defendant nos.35 was not maintainable, cannot be
     accepted –In the written statement, defendant nos.1 & 2 admitted
     that defendant no.3 and late ‘M’ were the children of ‘JDA’ – Nothing
     has been pointed out that unlike in Hindu law, there is any law
     prohibiting the Christian couple to adopt male or female child,
H
                                      10
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                          11
         SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS

although they may have natural born male or female child – By             A
virtue of adoption, child gets transplanted into a new family and is
deemed to be a member thereof as if he or she were born son or
daughter of the adoptive parents having same rights which natural
daughter or son had– Defendant no.1-wife of ‘JDA’ had died,
therefore the suit property is to be divided amongst the defendant
                                                                          B
no.2-5 – Defendant nos.2, 3 and defendant nos.4 & 5 (jointly) shall
have 1/3rd share each in the suit property – Decree passed by the
High Court modified to that extent – Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
– s.96 – Suit.
      Practice & Procedure – Cross objection – Meaning of – Held:
A memo of cross objection is nothing but one form of appeal and it        C
takes the place of cross appeal – Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 –
s.96.
       Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 – s.96 – Appeal under –
Aggrieved party to file such appeal, who can be – Suit filed for
partition of the suit property amongst the plaintiffs and the             D
defendants including defendant nos.2-5 – Dismissed – Appeals filed
by the plaintiffs and defendant nos.3-5 –Plea of the appellant-
defendant no.2 that as the defendant nos.3-5 did not file any counter
claim in the suit claiming their specific share and the suit was
dismissed, the appeal at their instance was not maintainable – Held:      E
In a suit for partition, every co-sharer would have a right to claim
the share/partition– If a person is prejudiced or adversely affected
by the judgment and decree, he can file an appeal – In the present
case, in the written statement filed by the defendant nos.3-5, they
specifically stated that they had 1/4th share each in the suit property
–Therefore, when the suit for partition was dismissed, defendant          F
nos.3-5 can be said to be aggrieved by the decree passed by the
trial court dismissing the suit– Suit.
      Allowing the appeal, the Court
      HELD: 1.1 The High Court has completely erred in holding            G
that the plaintiffs would have 1/4th share in the suit property being
the heirs of deceased ‘TKJ’ – the daughter of ‘JDA’. It was the
specific case on behalf of defendant nos.1 & 2 that at the time of
marriage of ‘TKJ’ with original plaintiff no.1, she converted to
Hinduism and her name was changed to ASM. It was the specific
                                                                          H
12            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                      [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A    case on behalf of defendant nos.1 & 2 that at the relevant time
     when the said ‘TKJ’ had married to original plaintiff no.1 and
     converted to Hinduism, there was opposition. However, despite
     the same, the said ‘TKJ’ converted to Hinduism and married to
     original plaintiff no.1 and she was paid Rs.50,000/- and some gold
     ornaments for relinquishing her right, if any, in the suit property
B
     belonging to ‘JDA’. The trial Court believed the case on behalf
     of defendant nos. 1 & 2, both on appreciation of evidence as well
     as on conduct of ‘TKJ’. ‘JDA’ died intestate in the year 1964.
     ‘TKJ’, the eldest daughter married to original plaintiff no.1 in
     1979. She died in 1986. During her life time, she never claimed
C    any share/partition in the suit property belonging to ‘JDA’. Only
     after the death of ‘TKJ’, the plaintiffs claiming to be her heirs
     instituted the suit for partition contending, inter alia, that ‘TKJ’
     had 1/3rd share in the suit property. Therefore, considering the
     aforesaid conduct on the part of ‘TKJ’ during her life time, the
     trial Court rightly accepted the defence on behalf of original
D
     defendant nos.1 & 2 that the said ‘TKJ’ was paid Rs.50,000/- and
     some gold ornaments at the time of her marriage with original
     plaintiff no.1 and she relinquished her share in the suit property.
     Original defendant no.2 even incurred the expenditure from his
     own income for the purpose of improvement of the property.
E    Original defendant no.2 was serving in army and therefore he
     was having independent income. Considering the aforesaid facts
     and circumstances, the plaintiffs would not be entitled to any share
     of ‘TKJ’. Therefore, the trial Court rightly dismissed the suit
     which was not required to be interfered with by the High Court.
     In the facts and circumstances of the case, that part of the
F
     impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court holding
     that original plaintiffs shall be entitled to 1/4th share in the suit
     property being heirs of ‘TKJ’ deserves to be quashed and set
     aside. The suit was for partition of the suit property amongst the
     plaintiffs and the defendants including original defendant nos. 3
G    to 5. In a suit for partition, every co-sharer would have a right to
     claim the share/partition. Even considering the written statement
     filed on behalf of original defendant nos. 3 and 4 & 5, they had
     specifically stated that they are having 1/4th share each in the suit
     property. Therefore, when the suit for partition was dismissed,
H
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                       13
         SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS

original defendant nos. 3 to 5 can be said to be aggrieved by the      A
judgment and decree passed by the trial court dismissing the
suit for partition and therefore considering Section 96 of the CPC,
the appeal at their instance would be maintainable. If a person is
prejudiced or adversely affected by the judgment and decree, he
can file an appeal. Even otherwise, it is required to be noted that
                                                                       B
in an appeal preferred by the original plaintiffs challenging the
judgment and decree passed by the trial Court dismissing the
suit for partition, it would be open or permissible for original
defendant nos. 3 to 5 to file cross objection. A memo of cross
objection is nothing but one form of appeal and it takes the place
of a cross appeal. In the present case, instead of filing the cross    C
objection, original defendant nos. 3 to 5 filed a separate appeal
challenging the judgment and decree passed by the trial Court
dismissing the suit for partition in which they also claimed share,
in the written statement. Therefore, original defendant nos. 3 to
5 can be said to be aggrieved by the judgment and decree passed
                                                                       D
by the trial Court dismissing the suit. As such no plea that the
appeal at the instance of original defendant nos.3 to 5 was not
maintainable, was taken by the appellant before the High Court.
Therefore, the submission on behalf of the appellant-original
defendant no.2 that appeal at the instance of defendant nos. 3-5
was not maintainable, cannot be accepted. [Paras 9, 10, 10.1]          E
[24-D-H; 25-A-H; 26-B-E]
      1.2 Initially defendant nos. 3 to 5 were not joined as parties
to the suit. However, on the objection being taken by defendant
nos. 1 & 2 that defendant no.3 and late ‘M’ are also the heirs of
deceased ‘JDA’ and therefore the suit is bad for non-joinder of        F
proper parties, the plaintiffs amended the suit and joined
defendant nos. 3 to 5 as parties in the suit. In the written
statement, defendant nos. 1 & 2, in fact, admitted that defendant
no.3 and late ‘M’ were the children of ‘JDA’. But in the course
of evidence and arguments, it was stated that defendant no.3 and
late Maccabeaus were not the natural born children but they were       G
adopted children. Therefore, all proceeded on the premise that
defendant no. 3 and late ‘M’ were the adopted children. Therefore,
the present case is also proceeded on the assumption that
defendant no.3 and late ‘M’ were the adopted children of ‘JDA’.
                                                                       H
14            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                         [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A    In the Christian Law, there is no prohibition against adoption.
     Nothing has been pointed out that unlike in Hindu law, there is
     any law prohibiting the Christian couple to adopt male or female
     child, although they may have natural born male or female child,
     as the case may be. Once, it is observed and held that original
     defendant no. 3 and late ‘M’ were the adopted children of ‘JDA’,
B
     both of them were entitled to the share in the property of ‘JDA’-
     adoptive father. By virtue of adoption, a child gets transplanted
     into a new family whereafter he or she is deemed to be member
     of that family as if he or she were born son or daughter of the
     adoptive parents having same rights which natural daughter or
C    son had. The right which the child had to succeed to the property
     by virtue of being son of his natural father, in the family of his
     birth, is thus, clearly to be replaced by similar rights in the adoptive
     family, and, consequently, he would certainly obtain those rights
     in the capacity of a member of that family as an adopted son.
     Thus, original defendant no.3 and defendant nos. 4 & 5 (heirs of
D
     late ‘M’) are rightly held to be the co-sharers in the suit property
     belonging to ‘JDA’ and they are entitled to the respective shares
     in the suit property. Original defendant no.1-the wife of ‘JDA’
     had died and therefore the suit property is required to be divided
     amongst original defendant no.2, defendant no.3 and defendant
E    nos. 4 & 5. Therefore, original defendant no.2, original defendant
     no.3 and original defendant nos. 4 & 5 (jointly) shall have 1/3rd
     share each in the suit property. Therefore, the impugned
     judgment and decree passed by the High Court holding that the
     original plaintiffs shall have 1/4th share, original defendant nos. 2
     & 3 shall have 1/4th share each and original defendant nos. 4 &
F
     5(jointly) would have 1/4th share is required to be modified to the
     aforesaid extent holding that original defendant nos. 2 & 3 would
     have 1/3rd share each and original defendant nos. 4 & 5 jointly
     would have 1/3rd share in the suit property. [Paras 11.1, 11.2]
     [26-G-H; 27-A-H]
G           1.3 The impugned judgment and order passed by the High
     Court in appeal preferred by the original plaintiffs is hereby
     quashed and set aside and the judgment and decree passed by
     the trial Court dismissing the suit is hereby restored. Civil Appeal
     preferred by original defendant nos. 3 to 5 is hereby partly allowed
H    and the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                              15
         SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS

is hereby modified and it is held that original defendant no.2,               A
original defendant no.3 and original defendant nos. 4 & 5 (jointly)
shall have 1/3rd share each in the suit property originally belonged
to ‘JDA’. [Para 12] [28-A-C]
      Benoy Kumar Mondal v. Panchanon Majumdar
      AIR 1956 Calcutta 177 ; Philips Alfred Malvin v. Y.J.                   B
      Gonsalvis AIR 1999 Kerala 187; Baldev Singh v.
      Surinder Mohan Sharma (2003) 1 SCC 34 : [2002] 4
      Suppl. SCR 43 – referred to.
                         Case Law Reference
      AIR 1956 Calcutta 177            referred to          Para 4.2          C

      AIR 1999 Kerala 187              referred to          Para 4.3
      [2002] 4 Suppl. SCR 43          referred to           Para 10.1

                                                                              D
      CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal Nos. 7207-
7208 of 2008
      From the Judgment and Order dated 22.11.2006 of the High Court
of Karnataka at Bangalore in RFA Nos. 546 and 940 of 2004
      N. Vasudevan, Ms. Anitha Shenoy, Advs. for the Appellants.              E
     Ms. Shalini Kaul, Chaman Lal Choudhary, Advs. for the
Respondents.
      The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
      M. R. SHAH, J.                                                          F
      1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned common
judgment and order dated 22.11.2006 passed by the High Court of
Karnataka at Bangalore in R.F.A. No. 546/2004 and R.F.A. No. 940/
2004, the appellant herein – original defendant no.2 has preferred the
present appeals.
                                                                              G
      2. The facts leading to the present appeals in nutshell are as under:
       That one John D. Abraham is the propositus. That original
defendant no.1 is the wife of the said John D. Abraham. Original
defendant no.2, defendant no.3, one TrizaKalyani John (wife of original
                                                                              H
16             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                           [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A    plaintiff no.1) and one late Maccabeaus are the children of propositus.
     That the suit schedule house is the estate of the propositus. That original
     defendant no.1 – wife of the propositus – John D. Abraham died intestate
     during the pendency of the suit. That after the demise of the propositus,
     his daughter Triza Kalyani John married with original plaintiff no.1, who
     was a Hindu. At the relevant time, Triza Kalyani John – daughter of the
B
     propositus got herself converted to Hinduism and changed her name as
     A.S. Meenakshi. Original plaintiff nos. 2 and 3 are the children born out
     of the said wedlock. Triza Kalyani John died in the year 1986. That
     thereafter and after the death of the said Triza Kalyani John, the original
     plaintiffs – husband of Triza Kalyani John and their two children instituted
C    original suit no. 591/1987 in the Court of learned City Civil Judge,
     Bangalore for partition and separate possession of the suit schedule
     property. Original plaintiffs filed the suit seeking share of Triza Kalyani
     John (A.S. Meenakshi). It was the case on behalf of the plaintiffs that
     the said A.S.Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani John was having 1/4th share in
     the suit property – property belonged to propositus – John D. Abraham.
D
     The plaintiffs sought the following reliefs in the suit:
          i) for partition and separate possession of their one third right and
             share, in absolute estate and title, in and in relation to the
             properties and premises described in the schedule ‘A’ hereunder,
             by metes and bounds, having due regard to the quality of soil,
E            utility and access to the buildings and premises thereon and
             convenience of enjoyment thereof, directing the defendants to
             put the plaintiffs in such exclusive possession and enjoyment
             thereof;
          ii) appointing one or more Commissioners to inspect the suit
F             properties and premises and submits proposals, together with
              plans and sketches of the buildings thereon and of the premises
              thereat, allotting one-third share and extent thereat to the
              plaintiffs;
          iii) passing final decree in pursuance of the preliminary decree
G              herein;
          iv) directing the defendants to pay the plaintiffs their cost of the
              suit and
          v) glaring such other reliefs and making such further orders as to
             it may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of this case.”
H
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                                  17
   SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS [M.R. SHAH, J.]

       2.1 It is required to be noted that initially the suit was filed only      A
against the two defendants – wife of late John D. Abraham (defendant
no.1) and the appellant herein – Pharez John Abraham, son of late John
D. Abraham (defendant no.2).
       2.2 The suit was resisted by defendant nos. 1 & 2 by filing the
joint written statement. It was contended that John D. Abrahamhad                 B
another son and daughter, namely, Vasanthi and Maccabeaus. It was
contended that the said Vasanthi and Maccabeaus were born to John D.
Abraham on account of the intimate relationship of John D. Abraham
with St. Pushpa. It was submitted that they are also entitled to share in
the suit property of John D. Abraham. Therefore, it was requested to
dismiss the suit on the ground of non-joinder of proper parties. It was           C
also contended on behalf of defendant nos. 1 & 2 that Meenakshi @
Triza Kalyani John being a Christian opted to marry plaintiff no.1, a
Hindu, much against the wishes of the members of the family. Meenakshi
@ Triza Kalyani John expressed that she will marry plaintiff no.1 by
converting herself to Hinduism and also that a share in the assets of             D
John D. Abraham may be given. According to the defendants, in
pursuance to the said demand put forth by Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani
John, a sum of Rs.50,000/- and certain gold ornaments were given to
her as defendant nos. 1 & 2 felt that it was not proper to partition the
living house or to induct a non-Christian to stay in the house. According
to the defendants, Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani John had taken her share             E
in the assets of John D. Abraham and therefore the plaintiffs are not
entitled to any share and the suit of the plaintiffs is liable to be dismissed.
       3. The learned trial Court framed the following issues:
       i) whether plaintiffs prove that they and the defendants are               F
       members of Hindu Joint Family?
       ii) Do they further prove that late A.S. Meenakshi is the wife of
       1st plaintiff and mother of 2nd and 3rd plaintiffs, dies(sic) as member
       of joint family and was in joint possession of the suit properties?
       iii) whether defendants prove that there was a family arrangement          G
       or settlement and that late A.S. Meenakshi has given up her claim
       for Rs.50,000/-?
       iv) whether the suit is bad for non-joinder of necessary parties?
       v) What is the share of the plaintiffs, if any, in the suit properties?
                                                                                  H
18             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                            [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A           vi) Whether the settlement pleaded by the defendants is binding
            upon the parties?
            vii) Whether the suit is properly valued and requisite court fee
            has been paid/
            viii) To what relief, if any, the plaintiffs are entitled?
B
            3.1 That subsequently Vasanthi and Maccabeaus were also
     impleaded as parties to the suit and as Maccabeaus had died, his widow
     and his daughter were brought on record. They were joined as defendant
     nos. 3 to 5.

C           3.2 Both the parties led evidence, oral as well as documentary.
     That thereafter on appreciation of evidence and considering the evidence
     on record, the learned trial Court answered issue no.3 in the affirmative
     and held that there was a family arrangement or settlement and that late
     A.S. Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani John has given up her claim for
     Rs.50,000/-. It was held by the learned trial Court that in that view of
D    the matter, the plaintiffs are not entitled to the partition and the share of
     late A.S. Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani John. Consequently, the learned
     trial Court dismissed the suit. The learned trial Court also observed and
     held that the suit was barred by limitation as John D. Abraham died
     intestate in the year 1964 and in Christanity the property would be divided
E    immediately after the death of the intestate person and that during the
     life time Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi has not put forth any
     claim against the members of the erstwhile family after 1964 till her
     demise in the year 1986 and if she wanted any share in the assets of
     John D. Abraham, then she should have done so within three years.
     The learned trial Court also observed that for separate possession in the
F    suit property, the period would have been 12 years from the date of the
     death of John D. Abraham and accordingly the limitation got expired by
     1976 itself.
            4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment and decree
     passed by the learned trial Court dismissing the suit, the original plaintiffs
G    preferred R.F.A. No. 546/2004 before the High Court. Original defendant
     nos. 3 to 5 also filed a separate appeal challenging the judgment and
     decree passed by the learned trial Court dismissing the suit by filing
     R.F.A. No. 940/2004.

H
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                                  19
   SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS [M.R. SHAH, J.]

       4.1 That by the impugned common judgment and order, the High               A
Court has allowed both the appeals and has held that the trial Court
erred in dismissing the suit and in rejecting the claim of defendant nos. 3
to 5. The High Court has also observed and held that as the first defendant
died intestate during the pendency of the suit, the two daughters and two
sons of John D. Abraham are entitled to 1/4thshare each. The High
                                                                                  B
Court has held that consequently the plaintiffs together are entitled to 1/
4thshare, the 3rd defendant is entitled to 1/4thshare, defendant nos. 4 & 5
are entitled to 1/4thshare and defendant no.2 is entitled to 1/4thshare.
The High Court has directed to draw the preliminary decree accordingly.
       4.2 While allowing the appeals, the High Court has observed and
held that though the plaintiffs are Hindus and the property belongs to a          C
Christian, still as per the Indian Succession Act plaintiffs can have partition
of a Christian property if a Christian dies intestate. In support of the
above, the High Court has relied upon and considered the decision of the
Calcutta High Court in the case of Benoy Kumar Mondal v. Panchanon
Majumdar, reported in AIR 1956 Calcutta 177. While allowing the                   D
appeals, the High Court also did not believe the case on behalf of defendant
nos. 1 & 2 that A.S.Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani John relinquished her
share by taking Rs.50,000/-.
       4.3 Now so far as the rights of defendant nos. 3 to 5 are concerned,
the High Court has observed and held, considering the decision of the             E
Kerala High Court in the case of Philips Alfred Malvin v. Y.J.
Gonsalvis, reported in AIR 1999 Kerala 187, that even if defendant
no.3 and late Maccabeaus can be said to be adopted children, adoption
by a Christian couple is permissible and unlike the Hindu Law there is no
law prohibiting the Christian couple to adopt male or a female child
although they may have natural born male or female child, as the case             F
may be. Relying upon the aforesaid decision, the High Court has held
that defendant no.3 and defendant nos. 4 & 5 (being the heirs of late
Maccabeaus) are entitled to a share, notwithstanding that the third
defendant and late Maccabeaus are adopted children.
       5. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned common             G
judgment and order passed by the High Court, the original defendant
no.2 – Pharez John Abraham (now dead and represented through legal
heirs) has preferred the present appeals.

                                                                                  H
20             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                           [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A           6. Shri N. Vasudevan, learned Advocate has appeared on behalf
     of the appellant(s) and Ms. Shalini Kaul, learned Advocate has appeared
     for the respondents.
            6.1 It is vehemently submitted by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned
     Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellants that in the facts and
B    circumstances of the case, the High Court has materially erred in not
     accepting the case of defendant nos. 1 & 2 that there was a family
     settlement by which Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi had given
     up her share.
            6.2 It is vehemently submitted by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned
C    Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellants that at the relevant time
     Triza Kalyani John wanted to marry plaintiff no.1, who was a Hindu and
     there was opposition by her family members and therefore she converted
     herself to Hinduism and at that time she relinquished her share in the
     property/suit property of John D. Abraham by taking Rs.50,000/-. It is
     submitted that the High Court has materially erred in not accepting the
D    same on the ground that there is no Deed of Relinquishment executed
     by TrizaKalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi and as such the Deed of
     Relinquishment is required to be registered. It is vehemently submitted
     by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the
     appellants that family settlement need not be registered and that it can
E    be even oral.
            6.3 It is vehemently submitted by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned
     Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellants that the settlement in
     favour of Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi has been proved on the
     basis of evidence on record and preponderance of probabilities. It is
F    vehemently submitted that John D. Abraham died intestate on 19.10.1964;
     that Triza Kalyani John in the year 1979 converted to Hinduism and
     changed her name to A.S. Meenakshi and she got married to plaintiff
     no.1 in the year 1979; that the said Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi
     died in the month of July 1986; that at no point of time the said Triza
     Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi claimed her share in the property of
G    John D. Abraham. It is submitted that only thereafter and after the
     death of Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi, the original plaintiff
     no.1 filed a suit for partition and separate possession in the year 1987. It
     is submitted that therefore the aforesaid conduct of Triza Kalyani John
     @ A.S. Meenakshi of not claiming any share in the suit property during
H
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                              21
   SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS [M.R. SHAH, J.]

her life time though John D.Abraham died in the year 1964, would clearly      A
show and suggest that Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi had
relinquished her share by taking Rs.50,000/- at the time when she
converted to Hinduism to marry plaintiff no.1. It is further submitted
that even defendant nos. 1 & 2 also invested a huge amount in the repair
of the suit house.
                                                                              B
        6.4 It is further submitted by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned Advocate
appearing on behalf of the appellants that even considering the aforesaid
facts and circumstances, the suit was barred by limitation. It is submitted
that the High Court has materially erred in holding that the suit was
within the period of limitation on the ground that the suit is filed within
one year after demise of Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi. It is           C
submitted that the High Court has not properly appreciated and considered
that in Christianity, the property would be divided immediately after the
death of intestate person. It is submitted that as John D. Abraham died
intestate in the year 1964, and that she converted to Hinduism in the
year 1979 and the suit was filed in the year 1987 and therefore considering   D
the case from any angle, i.e., to claim the share within a period of three
years and/or even the relief for separate possession in the property, the
period of limitation would be 12 years from the death of John D. Abraham,
the suit was clearly barred by limitation. It is submitted therefore the
High Court has materially erred in holding the suit within the period of
limitation.                                                                   E

       6.5 It is further submitted by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned Advocate
appearing on behalf of the appellants that even otherwise the High Court
has materially erred in holding that defendant nos. 3 to 5 are also having
1/4thshare despite the fact that the 3rd defendant and late Maccabeaus
were the illegitimate children who were baptised on 22.7.1951 and             F
5.6.1959 respectively. It is submitted that even otherwise the High Court
has materially erred in holding that the adopted Christian children are
entitled to his/her share in the property as it happens in a Hindu family.
       6.6 It is vehemently submitted by Shri N. Vasudevan, learned
Advocate appearing on behalf of the appellants that even otherwise            G
defendant nos. 3 to 5 would not have claimed any share in absence of
any counter claim. It is submitted that therefore as such the appeal filed
by original defendant nos. 3 to 5 being R.F.A. No. 940/2004 would not at
all be maintainable.
                                                                              H
22             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                            [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A          6.7 Making the above submissions, it is prayed to allow the
     present appeals.
            7. Both these appeals are vehemently opposed by Ms. Shalini
     Kaul, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the respondents herein –
     the original plaintiffs and the supporting defendants.
B           7.1 It is vehemently submitted by the learned Advocate appearing
     on behalf of the respondents that in the absence of any Deed of
     Relinquishment executed by Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi
     relinquishing her share and in the absence of any other evidence that
     A.S.Meenakshi @ Triza Kalyani John had given up/relinquished her share
C    by taking Rs.50,000/- and other gold ornaments, the High Court has
     rightly disbelieved the same and has rightly held that defendant nos. 1 &
     2 have failed to prove that there was any relinquishment of her share by
     Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi.
           7.2 It is vehemently submitted by the learned Advocate appearing
D    on behalf of the respondents that the High Court has rightly held,
     considering the provisions of the Indian Succession Act that even a non-
     Christian and in the present case Hindus can claim partition in the suit
     property of a Christian died intestate.
            7.3 It is further submitted by the learned Advocate appearing on
E    behalf of the respondents that so far as the finding recorded by the
     learned trial Court on limitation is concerned, at the outset, it is required
     to be noted that there was no specific issue framed by the learned trial
     Court with regard to limitation. It is submitted therefore that in the
     absence of any specific issue framed on limitation, the learned trial Court
     ought not to have held that the suit was barred by limitation.
F
             7.4 Now so far as the impugned judgment and order passed by
     the High Court recognising the share of defendant nos. 3 to 5 is concerned,
     it is vehemently submitted by the learned Advocate appearing on behalf
     of the respondents that, in fact, defendant no.3 and the deceased
     Maccabeaus were the children of deceased John D. Abraham out of his
G    marriage with St. Pushpa in the year 1951. It is submitted that assuming
     that they were the adopted children of deceased John D. Abraham, in
     that case also, even being the adopted children they are having the share
     in the property of deceased John D. Abraham, who died intestate.

H
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                                 23
   SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS [M.R. SHAH, J.]

       7.5 Now so far as the submission on behalf of the appellants –            A
original defendant nos. 1 & 2 that in the absence of any counter claim by
defendant nos. 3 to 5, the appeal filed by original defendant nos. 3 to 5
being R.F.A. No. 940/2004 was not maintainable at all and therefore the
High Court has materially erred in passing the decree in their favour
holding that original defendant no.3 and defendant nos. 4 &5 (being the
                                                                                 B
heirs of deceased Maccabeaus) are having 1/4th share in the suit property
is concerned, it is submitted that in a suit for partition, every heir of the
deceased who died intestate would have a right and they can claim the
share even without filing any counter claim. It is submitted that even
otherwise such a plea/objection was never taken before the High Court
and therefore now the appellants are not permitted to take such a plea/          C
objection after having lost before the High Court.
      7.6 Making the above submissions, it is prayed to dismiss the
present appeals.
      8. We have heard the learned Advocates appearing for the
respective parties at length.                                                    D

       8.1 At the outset, it is required to be noted and as stated
hereinabove, the suit property initially belonged to one John D. Abraham.
The said John D. Abraham died intestate in the year 1964 leaving behind
him his wife –Esther Abraham – original defendant no.1 and four children
– two sons and two daughters, namely, Pharez John Abraham (original              E
defendant no.2); Triza Kalyani John @ A.S. Meenakshi (the eldest
daughter of John D. Abraham and the wife of original plaintiff no.1);
Vasanthi (original defendant no.3); and Late Maccabeaus (father of
defendant nos. 4 & 5). That in the year 1979, Triza Kalyani John
converted to Hinduism and married with original plaintiff no.1. That she         F
died in the year 1986 leaving behind her the original plaintiffs. That after
the death of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi, the original plaintiffs –
the husband and children of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi instituted
the present suit for claiming partition and a separate possession and
claimed that Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi had 1/3rd share in the
property of John D. Abraham, who died intestate. It is required to be            G
noted that initially the plaintiffs, claiming to be the heirs of Triza Kalyani
John @ Meenakshi joined original defendant nos. 1 & 2 - Esther
Abraham, wife of John D. Abraham and Pharez John Abraham, son of

                                                                                 H
24            SUPREME COURT REPORTS                          [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A    John D. Abraham and stated that all the three namely original defendant
     no.1, original defendant no.2 and Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi had
     1/3rd share each in the suit property. However, subsequently, original
     defendant nos. 3 to 5 came to be joined as parties. It was found that
     defendant no.3 – Vasanthi and late Maccabeaus were the adopted
     children of John D. Abraham. The learned trial Court dismissed the suit
B
     on merits as well as on the ground of limitation. In the appeals preferred
     by the original plaintiffs and original defendant nos. 3 to 5, the High
     Court has decreed the suit and has held that original plaintiffs, original
     defendant no.2, original defendant no.3 and original defendant nos. 4 &
     5 (jointly) have 1/4th share each in the suit property. The impugned
C    judgment and order passed by the High Court is the subject matter of
     present appeals at the instance of original defendant no.2 (now deceased
     and represented through the legal heirs).
             9. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties
     and considering the evidence/material on record, we are of the view
D    that the High Court has completely erred in holding that the plaintiffs
     would have 1/4th share in the suit property being the heirs of deceased
     Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi – the daughter of John D. Abraham.
     It was the specific case on behalf of defendant nos. 1 & 2 that at the
     time of marriage of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi with original plaintiff
     no.1, she converted to Hinduism and her name was changed to A.S.
E    Meenakshi. It was the specific case on behalf of defendant nos. 1 & 2
     that at the relevant time when the said Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi
     had married to original plaintiff no.1 and converted to Hinduism, there
     was opposition. However, despite the same, the said Triza Kalyani John
     @ Meenakshi converted to Hinduism and married to original plaintiff
F    no.1 and she was paid Rs.50,000/- and some gold ornaments for
     relinquishing her right, if any, in the suit property belonging to John D.
     Abraham. The trial Court believed the case on behalf of defendant nos.
     1 & 2, both on appreciation of evidence as well as on conduct of Triza
     Kalyani John @ Meenakshi. The trial Court also dismissed the suit on
     the ground of limitation. It is to be noted that the John D. Abraham died
G    intestate in the year 1964. Triza Kalyani John, the eldest daughter of
     John D. Abraham married to original plaintiff no.1 in the year 1979. She
     died in the year 1986. During her life time, she never claimed any share/
     partition in the suit property belonging to John D. Abraham. Only after
     the death of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi, the plaintiffs claiming to
H    be the heirs of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi instituted the suit for
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                                 25
   SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS [M.R. SHAH, J.]

partition contending, inter alia, that Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi            A
had 1/3rd share in the suit property belonging to John D. Abraham, who
died intestate. Therefore, considering the aforesaid conduct on the part
of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi during her life time, the learned trial
Court rightly accepted the defence on behalf of original defendant nos.
1 & 2 that the said Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi was paid Rs.50,000/
                                                                                 B
- and some gold ornaments at the time of her marriage with original
plaintiff no.1 and the said Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi relinquished
her share in the suit property. It is required to be noted that original
defendant no.2 even incurred the expenditure from his own income for
the purpose of improvement of the property. Original defendant no.2
was serving in army and therefore he was having independent income.              C
Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, the plaintiffs would
not be entitled to any share of Triza Kalyani John @ Meenakshi.
Therefore, the learned trial Court rightly dismissed the suit which was
not required to be interfered with by the High Court. In the facts and
circumstances of the case, that part of the impugned judgment and order
                                                                                 D
passed by the High Court holding that original plaintiffs shall be entitled
to 1/4th share in the suit property being heirs of Triza Kalyani John @
Meenakshi deserves to be quashed and set aside.
        10. Now so far as the impugned judgment and order passed by
the High Court holding that original defendant nos. 3 to 5 are also having
1/4th share – defendant no.3 and defendant nos. 4 & 5 in the suit property       E
is concerned, it is the case on behalf of defendant no.2 – the appellant
herein that as the original defendant nos. 3 to 5 did not file any counter
claim in the suit claiming their specific share and the suit was dismissed,
the appeal at the instance of original defendant nos. 3 to 5 was not
maintainable is concerned, it is required to be noted that the suit was for      F
partition of the suit property amongst the plaintiffs and the defendants
including original defendant nos. 3 to 5. In a suit for partition, every co-
sharer would have a right to claim the share/partition. Even considering
the written statement filed on behalf of original defendant nos. 3 and 4
& 5, they had specifically stated that they are having 1/4th share each in
the suit property. Therefore, when the suit for partition was dismissed,         G
original defendant nos. 3 to 5 can be said to be aggrieved by the judgment
and decree passed by the learned trial court dismissing the suit for partition
and therefore considering Section 96 of the CPC, the appeal at their
instance would be maintainable.
                                                                                 H
26             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                            [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A            10.1 At this stage, a decision of this Court in the case of Baldev
     Singh v. Surinder Mohan Sharma, reported in (2003) 1 SCC 34 is
     required to be referred to. A three Judge Bench of this Court in the
     aforesaid decision has opined that an appeal under Section 96 of the
     Code would be maintainable only at the instance of a person aggrieved
     by and dissatisfied with the judgment and decree. Thus, if a person is
B
     prejudiced or adversely affected by the judgment and decree, he can file
     an appeal. Even otherwise, it is required to be noted that in an appeal
     preferred by the original plaintiffs challenging the judgment and decree
     passed by the learned trial Court dismissing the suit for partition, it would
     be open or permissible for original defendant nos. 3 to 5 to file cross
C    objection. As per the settled proposition of law, a memo of cross objection
     is nothing but one form of appeal and it takes the place of a cross appeal.
     In the present case, instead of filing the cross objection, original defendant
     nos. 3 to 5 filed a separate appeal challenging the judgment and decree
     passed by the learned trial Court dismissing the suit for partition in which
     they also claimed share in the suit property, of course in the written
D
     statement. Therefore, original defendant nos. 3 to 5 can be said to be
     aggrieved by the judgment and decree passed by the learned trial Court
     dismissing the suit for partition claiming to be co-sharers. Even otherwise,
     it is required to be noted that as such no plea that the appeal at the
     instance of original defendant nos. 3 to 5 was not maintainable, was
E    taken by the appellant before the High Court. Therefore, the submission
     on behalf of the appellant – original defendant no.2 that appeal at the
     instance of defendant nos. 3 to 5 being RFA No. 940/2004 was not
     maintainable, cannot be accepted.
            11. Now the next question which is posed for consideration before
F    this Court is, whether defendant nos. 3 to 5 would have any share in the
     suit property belonging to John D. Abraham?
            11.1 It is required to be noted that initially defendant nos. 3 to 5
     were not joined as parties to the suit. However, on the objection being
     taken by defendant nos. 1 & 2 that defendant no.3 and late Maccabeaus
G    are also the heirs of deceased John D. Abraham and therefore the suit is
     bad for non-joinder of proper parties, the plaintiffs amended the suit and
     joined defendant nos. 3 to 5 as parties in the suit. In the written statement,
     defendant nos. 1 & 2, in fact, admitted that defendant no.3 and late
     Maccabeaus were the children of John D. Abraham. But in the course

H
PHAREZ JOHN ABRAHAM (DEAD) BY LRS. v. ARUL JOTHI                                 27
   SIVASUBRAMANIAM K. & OTHERS [M.R. SHAH, J.]

of evidence and arguments, it was stated that defendant no.3 and late            A
Maccabeaus were not the natural born children but they were adopted
children. Therefore, all proceeded on the premise that defendant no. 3
and late Maccabeaus were the adopted children. Therefore, we may
also proceed further with the case on the assumption that defendant
no.3 and late Maccabeaus were the adopted children of John D. Abraham.
                                                                                 B
It is required to be noted that in the Christian Law, there is no prohibition
against adoption. Nothing has been pointed out that unlike in Hindu law,
there is any law prohibiting the Christian couple to adopt male or female
child, although they may have natural born male or female child, as the
case may be. Once, it is observed and held that original defendant no. 3
and late Maccabeaus were the adopted children of John D. Abraham,                C
both of them were entitled to the share in the property of John D. Abraham
– adoptive father.
        11.2 By virtue of adoption, a child gets transplanted into a new
family whereafter he or she is deemed to be member of that family as if
he or she were born son or daughter of the adoptive parents having               D
same rights which natural daughter or son had. The right which the
child had to succeed to the property by virtue of being son of his natural
father, in the family of his birth, is thus, clearly to be replaced by similar
rights in the adoptive family, and, consequently, he would certainly obtain
those rights in the capacity of a member of that family as an adopted
son. Thus, original defendant no.3 and defendant nos. 4 & 5 (heirs of            E
late Maccabeaus) are rightly held to be the co-sharers in the suit property
belonging to John D. Abraham and they are entitled to the respective
shares in the suit property belonging to John D. Abraham. Original
defendant no.1 – the wife of John D. Abraham had died and therefore
the suit property is required to be divided amongst original defendant           F
no.2, defendant no.3 and defendant nos. 4 & 5. Therefore, original
defendant no.2, original defendant no.3 and original defendant nos. 4 &
5 (jointly) shall have 1/3rd share each in the suit property. Therefore, the
impugned judgment and decree passed by the High Court holding that
the original plaintiffs shall have 1/4th share, original defendant nos. 2 &
3 shall have 1/4th share each and original defendant nos. 4 & 5(jointly)         G
would have 1/4th share is required to be modified to the aforesaid extent
holding that original defendant nos. 2 & 3 would have 1/3rd share each
and original defendant nos. 4 & 5 jointly would have 1/3rd share in the
suit property.
                                                                                 H
28             SUPREME COURT REPORTS                         [2019] 9 S.C.R.


A            12. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, Civil
     Appeal arising from R.F.A. No. 546/2004 is hereby allowed. The
     impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court in R.F.A. No.
     546/2004 preferred by the original plaintiffs is hereby quashed and set
     aside and the judgment and decree passed by the learned trial Court
     dismissing the suit is hereby restored. Civil Appeal arising from R.F.A.
B
     No. 940/2004, preferred by original defendant nos. 3 to 5 is hereby partly
     allowed and the impugned judgment and order passed by the High Court
     is hereby modified and it is held that original defendant no.2, original
     defendant no.3 and original defendant nos. 4 & 5 (jointly) shall have
     1/3 rd share each in the suit property originally belonged to John
C    D.Abraham. However, in the facts and circumstances of the case,
     there shall be no order as to costs.


     Divya Pandey                                                 Appeal allowed.

D




E




F




G




H