Bombay High Court
Apaji Chintaman Devdhar vs Gangabai Kom Daji Chintaman on 1 May, 1878
Equivalent citations: (1878)ILR 2BOM632
JUDGMENT Michael Westropp, C.J.
1. The question whether a Court of Small Causes could have entertained this suit, referred to a Full Bench by the Division Court having been by the Full Bench decided in the negative, it now remains for the present Division Court--Mr. Justice Nanabhai Haridas, who was one of the referring Judges, being no longer on the Bench--to dispose of the suit on the merits. It is one by a widow against the brother of her late husband for a pecuniary allowance as maintenance and the expenses of a pilgrimage to Benares. The defendant alleged that he had not any ancestral property, and that he did not derive any property from his deceased brother, the husband of the plaintiff, and the Courts below have found this allegation to be true. The Subordinate Judge decreed against the plaintiff, but his decision was reversed by the Assistant Judge, who relied upon Timmappu v. Parmehrimma (5 Bom. H.C. Rep., 130, A.C. J). However, in the case of Savitribas v. Luxumibai (I.L.R., 2 Bom., 573) decided on the 1st May 1878, which was a suit by a widow against her husband's paternal uncle, a Full Bench of this Court held that the fact that the latter had no ancestral property, or property which had belonged to his deceased nephew, the husband of the plaintiff, constituted a full and sufficient defence to the suit. The reasoning by which the Full Bench arrived at its conclusion in that case is applicable to the present case, and it is unnecessary to repeat it here. The case relief upon by the Assistant Judge has been fully discussed in that case. We reverse the decree of the Assistant Judge, and restore that of the Subordinate Judge, except that we direct the parties respectively to bear their own costs of the suit and both appeals.