Supreme Court of India
Veerattalingam And Others vs Ramesh And Others on 18 September, 1990
Equivalent citations: 1990 AIR 2201, 1990 SCR SUPL. (1) 507, AIR 1990 SUPREME COURT 2201, 1991 (1) SCC 489, (1991) 5 JT 425 (SC), 1991 ALL CJ 1 383, (1992) 1 GUJ LH 139, (1990) 42 DLT 451, (1991) 1 LANDLR 101, (1991) 1 MAD LJ 58, 1991 SCD 50
Author: L.M. Sharma
Bench: L.M. Sharma, K. Ramaswamy
PETITIONER:
VEERATTALINGAM AND OTHERS
Vs.
RESPONDENT:
RAMESH AND OTHERS
DATE OF JUDGMENT18/09/1990
BENCH:
SHARMA, L.M. (J)
BENCH:
SHARMA, L.M. (J)
RAMASWAMY, K.
CITATION:
1990 AIR 2201 1990 SCR Supl. (1) 507
1991 SCC (1) 489 JT 1991 (5) 425
1990 SCALE (2)550
ACT:
Indian Succession Act, 1925: Section I74--Will--Inter-
pretation of--Factors to be considered apart from language
of the document--Recourse to precedents-Permissibility of.
Transfer of Property Act 1882: Section 14--Rule against
perpetuity-Rejection of plea--When arises.
HEADNOTE:
The property in the suit belonged to the great grand-
mother of the plaintiffs and defendant Nos. 5 to 14 who
executed a registered will. According to the terms of the
will, her two sons, defendant No. 1 and plaintiffs' witness
No. 2 were to remain in possession of the properties without
any power of alienation, to pay the taxes and conduct regu-
larly certain religions festivals, and their male issues on
attaining majority were to get the property in equal por-
tions and enjoy it absolutely.
The main dispute in the suit was about the share which
the plaintiffs are entitled to under the terms of the afore-
said will. The plaintiffs claimed that they being the only
grand-sons of the younger son of the testatrix were entitled
to half-share in the properties, the remaining half going to
the grand-sons of defendant No. 1 namely, defendant Nos. 5
to 14. The suit was contested on behalf of the defendants,
who pleaded that the suit properties have to be divided
amongst all the 13 great grand-sons of the testatrix in
equal shares, and that the suit was fit to be dismissed as
defendant No. 1 defendent No. 15 had finally partitioned the
properties in 1975, and no question of further partition
arises. The maintainability of the suit was also challenged
on the ground of minority of the plaintiffs as also on the
basis of the rule against perpetuity.
The trial Court rejected the plea based on the rule
against perpetuity but having regard to the interest of
defendant No. 1, his brother, and defendant No. 15, it held
that the alleged partition of 1975 was illegal and not
binding on the plaintiffs and that so far as the shares of
the plaintiffs and defendant Nos. 5 to 14 are concerned held
that the parties would take the properties as per capita.
The suit was however dismissed on the ground that the plain-
tiffs were still minor.
In the appeal to the High Court by the plaintiffs, the
High Court confirmed the findings of the trial court that
the 1975 partition was illegal, but held that the division
would take place as per stirpes, and taking into account the
fact that during the pendency of the appeal, two of the
plaintiffs had attained majority, the High Court passed a
decree in theft favour for one-sixth share each. So far as
the third plaintiff was concerned, it declared his right
without passing a decree for partition.
The appellants-defendants challenged the decision of the
High Court in
508
this Court by special leave, contending that as per the
terms of the will the great grand-sons of the testatrix have
inherited the suit properties as per capita and that the
conclusion of the High Court on this aspects was illegal,
and that reliance by the High Court, on Boddu-Venkatakrishna
Rao & Ors. v. Shrimati Boddu Satyavathi & Ors., [1968] 2 SCR
395 was inapplicable to the facts of this case.
Allowing the appeal in part, and decreeing the suit in
favour of all the plaintiffs, that the share of the three
plaintiffs and defendant Nos. 5 to 14 shah be one-thirteen
each in the suit properties this Court,
HELD: 1. A Court while construing a will should try to
ascertain the intention of the testator to be gathered
primarily from the language of the document; but while so
doing the surrounding circumstances the position of the
testator, his family relationship and the probability that
he used the words in a particular sense also must be taken
into account. They lend a valuable aid in arriving at the
correct construction of the will. Since these considerations
are changing from person to person it is seldom profitable
to compare the words of one will with those of another or to
try to discover which of the wills upon which the decisions
have been given in reported cases. the disputed will approx-
imates closely. Recourse to precedents, therefore, should be
confined for the purpose of general principles of construc-
tion only.
2.There is still another reason as to why the construc-
tion put on certain expressions in a will should not be
applied to a similar expression in the will under question
for, a will has to be considered and construed as a whole,
and not piecemeal. It follows that a fair and reasonable
construction of the same expression may vary from will to
will.
3. Therefore, in the matter of construction of a will,
authorities or precedents are of no help as each will has to
be construed in its own terms and in the setting in which
the clauses occur.
In the instant case, the High Court has interpreted the
crucial part of the will containing the expression 'SAMABHA-
GAMAGA ADAINTHU' as directing the plaintiffs on the one hand
and the defendants5 to 14 on the other to "share equally out
of each branch". The main reason for the High Court for
taking such a view is that the terms of a will which was the
subject matter of interpretation in the case of Boddu Venka-
takrishna Rao & Ors. v. Shrbnati Boddu Satvavathi & Ors.,
[1968] 2 SCR 395; were more or less similar. It has also
been assumed that the properties finally descended on the
two branches in equal shares and consequently parties be-
longing to the two branches inherited the properties as per
stripes. While so doing the Court failed to notice that the
relevant facts and circumstances of that case were widely
different from those in the present case. The conclusion of
the High Court on the construction of the will was therefore
not correct.
In the instant case, there is no manner of doubt, and it
is not denied by any party that neither the sons nor the
grand-sons of the testatrix got any life estate
509
in the properties. It is the agreed case of the parties that
as soon as plaintiffs and defendants No. 5 to 14 become
major they are entitled to get the property absolutely
without waiting for the death of their respective fathers or
grandfather. The will has therefore to be interpreted with-
out being influenced by the meaning given to the will in the
reported case.
4. The devolution of the property under the will takes
place on the plaintiffs and defendants No. 5 to 14 for the
first time 'under equal shares'. Since this is the first
occasion for the shares in the property to be defined, the
expression 'equal shares' must refer to the entire proper-
ties left by the testatrix which will have to be divided
equally amongst all the thirteen great grand-sons by the
testatrix. In other words they take the properties as per
capita. The third plaintiff has also attained majority
during the pendency of the present appeal and has therefore
become entitled to a share in the properties. The suit is
decreed in favour of all the plaintiffs their share being
one-thirteenth each.
Ramachandra Shenoy and Another v. Mrs.Hilda brite and
Others, [1964] 2 SCR 722, relied on.
Boddu Venkatakrishna Rao & Ors. v. Shrimati Boddu Sat-
vavathi & Ors., [1968] 2 SCR 395, distinguished.
5. The plea that disposition under the will was hit by
the rule against perpetuity was rightly rejected by the
trial court on the ground that the sons of the testatrix as
also their respective sons were alive.
JUDGMENT:
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civil Appeal No. 2231 of 1988.
From the Judgment and Order dated 19.8.1987 of the Madras High Court in Appeal No. 86 of 1982.
R. Venkataramani for the Appellants.
S. Balakrishnan and M.K.D. Namboodiri for the Respondents. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by SHARMA, J. This appeal by special leave is directed against the decree passed by the High Court in favour of the plaintiff-respondents in a suit for partition.
2. The property in suit belonged to Smt. Rathinammal, who after executing a registered will died in 1942. Accord- ing to the terms of the will, her two sons Natesan. defend- ant no. 1, and Subramanian. plaintiffs' witness no. 2 (PW-
2), were to remain in possession of the properties without any power of alienation and had to pay the taxes and conduct regularly certain religious festivals; and thereafter their sons were to manage the properties on similar terms. The will further provides that after their attaining majority the great grand-sons, i.e., 510 the son's sons' sons of the testatrix will get the proper- ties as absolute owners.
3. Subramanian, the younger son of the testatrix, who has been in 'the present suit examined as the second witness on behalf of the plaintiffs, has one son Arunachalam, de- fendant no. 15. The three plaintiffs, Ramesh, Ganesh and Sivalingam are the sons of the defendant no. 15. The defend- ant No. 1 got four sons and ten sons' sons. The main dispute in the suit is about the share which the plaintiffs are entitled to, under the terms of the will. They claim that they being the only grand-sons of Subramanian have half share in the properties, the remaining half going to the grand-sons of the defendant no. 1, namely, defendants no. 5 to 14. On behalf of the defendants it is pleaded that the suit properties have to be divided amongst all the 13 great grand-sons of the testatrix in equal shares. The defendants also contended that the suit was fit to be dismissed as the defendant no. 1 and the defendant no. 15 had finally parti- tioned the properties in 1975, and no question of a further partition arises. The maintainability of the suit was also challenged on the ground of minority of the plaintiffs as also on the basis of the rule against perpetuity.
4. The trial court rejected the plea based on the rule against perpetuity. Having regard to the interest of the defendant no. 1, his brother Subramanian and Arunachalam, defendant no. 15, the court held that the alleged partition of 1975 was illegal and not binding on the plaintiffs. So far the shares of the plaintiffs and the defendants no. 5 to 14 are concerned, agreeing with the defence case, the court held that the parties would take the properties as per capita. However, the suit was dismissed on the ground that the plaintiffs were still minor.
5. On appeal by the plaintiffs, the High Court confirmed the finding of the trial court that the 1975 partition was illegal. On the question of the shares of the parties, the High Court agreed with the plaintiffs and held that the division would take place as per stirpes. Taking into ac- count the fact that during the pendency of the appeal two of the plaintiffs had attained majority, the High Court passed a decree in their favour for one-sixth share each. So far the third plaintiff is concerned, the High Court declared his right without passing a decree for partition. The de- fendants are challenging the decision of the High Court by the present civil appeal.
6. The learned counsel for the appellants has contended that as per the terms of the will the great grand-sons of the testatrix have inherited the suit properties as per capita and the conclusion of the 511 High Court on this aspect is illegal. The English version of the operative portion of the will has been quoted in para- graph 7 of the judgment of the trial court and is not chal- lenged by either party before us. After mentioning the rights and the duties of her sons the testatrix has stated the position of her grand-sons and great grand-sons thus:
"They (that is, sons' sons) have also to pay the taxes and out of their income conduct the aforesaid festivals regular- ly. Then their male issues after attaining majority, have to take possession of the said properties in equal shares and enjoy them with all powers of alienation."
It has been stated by the learned counsel for the parties before us that the words "the said properties in equal shares" are the English version of the words SAMABHAGAMAGA ADAINTHU. The learned counsel for the appellants translated this portion of the will as stating that, "they (that is, the sons' sons) shall pay the taxes due to the Government and will carry on the charitable/religious activities without fail and their male issues would on attaining majority get the properties in equal portion (SAMABHAGAMAGA ADAINTHU) and will possess, own and enjoy it absolutely."
The crucial expression is SAMABHAGAMAGA ADAINTHU which according to the learned counsel for the parties means in equal portions. The question is as to whether in view of this provision in the will, the entire properties left by the testatrix are to be divided equally amongst all her great grand-sons; or, the three plaintiffs shall amongst themselves take half, the remaining half going to their cousins.
7. The High Court has interpreted the crucial part of the will, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, as directing the plaintiffs on the one hand and the defendants 5 to 14 on the other respectively to "share equally out of each branch". It has been assumed that the properties finally descended on the two branches in equal shares, and conse- quently parties belonging to the two branches inherited the properties as stirpes. The main reason for the High Court for taking such a view is that the terms of a will which was the subject matter of interpretation in the case of Boddu Venkatakrishna Rao & Ors. v. Shrimati Boddu Satyavathi & Ors., [1968] 2 SCR 395; were more or less similar, which this Court construed in the manner as suggested by the plaintiffs in the case before us. We are not in agreement with the. approach of the High Court.
5128. It is well-settled that a court while construing a will should try to ascertain the intention of the testator to be gathered primarily from the language of the document; but while so doing the surrounding circumstances, the posi- tion of the testator. his family relationship 'and the probability that he used the words in a particular sense also must be taken into account. They lend a valuable aid in arriving at the correct construction of the will. Since these considerations are changing from person to person. it is seldom profitable to compare the words of one will with those of another or to try to discover which of the wills upon which the decisions have been given in reported cases, the disputed will approximates closely. Recourse to prece- dents, therefore, should be confined for the purpose of general principle of construction only. which, by now, are well-settled. There is still another reason as to why the construction put on certain expressions in a will should not be applied to a similar expression in the will under ques- tion for, a will has to be considered and construed as a whole, and not piecemeal. It follows that a fair and reason- able construction of the same expression may vary from will to will. For these reasons it has been again and again held that in the matter of construction of a will. authorities or precedents are of no help as each will has to be construed in its own terms and in the setting in which the clauses occur (see Ramachandra Shenoy and Another v. Mrs. Hilda Brite and Others, [1964] 2 SCR 722 at p. 736. The risk in not appreciating this wholesome rule is demonstrated by the case before us.
9. Assuming that the will in the case of Boddu Venka- takrishna Rao & Ors. v. Shrimati Boddu Satyavathi & Ors., [1968] 2 SCR 395; was somewhat similar to that in the present case. the High Court. following the construction given on the will in the reported case, has held in the judgment under appeal that the great grand-sons of the testatrix shall be taking the properties as per stripes. While so doing the Court failed to notice that the relevant facts and circumstances of that case were widely different from those in the present case. There. the testatrix who was a childless widow. had bequeathed under the will life es- tates to two children who were defendants 4 and 5 in the case and whom she had brought up from their infancy. and subject to the same, the property was to go to their chil- dren after their death. The conclusion of the High Court on the construction of the will. with which this Court agreed. was expressed thus.
"the bequest in favour of defendants 4 and 5 was that of a life estate with a vested remainder in favour of their children and that the children should take the vested re- mainder per stripes and not per capita".513
In the case before us no life estate was created in favour of anybody. otherwise there would not arise any question of the plaintiffs' getting any share in the proper- ty even on their attaining majority during the lifetime of their father and uncle. The High Court has also. under the impugned judgment, observed that a Hindu is not ordinarily expected to create a joint tenancy but, failed to appreciate that there is only presumption. to this effect, which can not override the provisions 'of the will, if the language is unambiguous and clear. In the present case there is no manner of doubt, and it is not denied by any party that neither the sons nor the grand-sons of the testatrix got any life estate in the properties. It is the agreed case of the parties that as soon as plaintiffs and defendants no. 5 to 14 become major they are entitled to get the property abso- lutely without waiting for the death of their respective fathers or grand-fathers. We should, therefore. interpret the will without being influenced by the meaning given to the will in the reported case.
10. The devolution of the property under the will takes place on the plaintiffs and defendants No. 5 to 14 for the first time "under equal shares". Since this is the first occasion for the shares in the property to be defined the expression "equal shares" must refer to the entire proper- ties left by the testatrix which will have to be divided equally amongst all the thirteen great grand-sons by the testatrix. In other words. they take the properties as per capita.
11. Admittedly the third plaintiff has also attained majority during the pendency of the present appeal and has, therefore. become entitled to a share in the properties now. The suit. is accordingly decreed in favour of all the plain- tiffs,--their share being one thirteenth each.
12. The plea that the disposition under the will was hit by the rule against perpetuity was rejected by the trial court in paragraph 7 of judgment on the ground that the sons of the testatrix, namely, the first defendant and the plain- tiff's witness no. 2 as also their respective sons the defendants no. 2 to 4 are alive. The point was not pressed in the High Court. The view of the trial court appears to be correct, and does. not require reconsideration at this stage. In the result, the appeal is allowed in part as indicated above. The suit is accordingly decreed in favour of all the three plaintiff. The share of the three plain- tiffs and the ten defendants, that is, defendants No. 5 to 14, shall be onethirteenth each in the suit properties. There shall be no order as to costs.
N.V.K. Appeal party allowed.
514