1. It is conceded that Gangamma obtained the land in dispute as a gift from her father some forty years ago and that she was in possession from
that time till her death three years ago. The plaintiffs are her son and grandson. Defendants are her brothers and brother''s sons. Both the courts
below have held that the plaintiffs are entitled to the land and not the defendants. The contention on appeal is that under Hindu law it must be
presumed that a gift to a female is only for her life and reference is made to Mahomed Shumsool v. Shewukram, L. R 2 I. A 7 and Bhujanga v.
Ramayamma, I. L, R 7 M 387
2. It is no doubt remarked by the Lords of the Privy Council in L. R 2 I. A 7 that it may be assumed that a Hindu knows that, as a general rule at
all events, women do not take absolute estates of inheritance which they are enabled to alienate, and that in construing the will of a Hindu it is not
improper to take into consideration what are known to be the ordinary notions and wishes of Hindus with respect to the devolution of property.
That case was decided on the construction of the will. The above case was considered by the Calcutta High Court in a case reported in 24 W.R
395 Mussamut Kollany Kooer v. Luchmee Pershad, and it was held that women are not by reason of their sex debarred from taking an absolute
estate when such estate appears to have been intended by the testator. In the case of Bhujanga v. Ramayamma, I. L. R 7 M 387 it was held on the
construction of the document that the property was given as Stridhanam. In the present case the deed of gift is not produced, nor is it shown that
Gangamma was a widow when her father gave the property to her. She has left sons surviving her. Under these circumstances there is no
foundation for the presumption that the donee''s sons were intended to be displaced by those of the donor.
3. Such is not the ordinary intention of a Hindu when he makes a gift to his daughter under coverture.
4. The presumption relied on by the appellant being inapplicable, we dismiss this appeal with costs.
