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Issues Involved:
1. Pious obligation of sons to pay the father's debt. 2. Constitution of the joint Hindu family and the role of the manager. 3. Legal necessity and consideration of the debt. 4. Limitation and waiver of the creditor's option. Issue-wise Detailed Analysis: 1. Pious Obligation of Sons to Pay the Father's Debt: The primary legal question was whether the sons and grandsons of Raj Kumar Lal, who was the manager of a joint Hindu family, were under a pious obligation to pay a debt incurred by him, which was neither for family necessity nor tainted with illegality or immorality. The court held that the sons were under a pious obligation to pay the debt, as it was not for an immoral purpose. The judgment emphasized that the pious obligation of Hindu sons to discharge their father's debts is rooted in religious duty and is enforceable to the extent of the joint family property in their hands. It was noted that this obligation exists irrespective of whether the father is the manager of the joint family or if the family includes other male members. 2. Constitution of the Joint Hindu Family and the Role of the Manager: The court found that Raj Kumar Lal and all the defendants were members of a joint Hindu family and that Raj Kumar Lal was the manager (karta) of that family. The defendants' plea of separation and the reliance on a partition decree were rejected as fraudulent. The court clarified that the pious obligation of the sons is not confined to cases where the family consists only of the father and sons or where the father is the manager. The obligation extends to all Hindu sons, regardless of other family members' presence or the father's managerial role. 3. Legal Necessity and Consideration of the Debt: The court found that the bond in suit was for consideration but no legal necessity for the debt was proved, and the plaintiff did not make proper and bona fide inquiries as to the existence of the alleged necessities. Despite this, the court held that the sons were still under a pious obligation to pay the debt because it was not tainted with immorality. The court emphasized that the creditor's right to recover the debt by selling the sons' interest in the family property is based on the pious obligation and not on the father's right to alienate the property. 4. Limitation and Waiver of the Creditor's Option: Regarding the argument of limitation, the court referred to a bond dated 17th August 1919, which was part of the consideration for the bond in suit. The defendants argued that the debt was time-barred due to a default in interest payment from the outset. However, the court held that the covenant in the bond, allowing the creditor to sue before the stipulated period, was for the creditor's benefit and could be waived. Since the creditor waived this option, the bond did not become payable until after the full period of four years, making the claim within time. The court also noted that the sons are under a pious obligation to pay time-barred debts acknowledged by their father. Conclusion: The court dismissed the appeal, affirming the lower court's decision that the sons and grandsons of Raj Kumar Lal were under a pious obligation to pay the debt incurred by him, as it was not for an immoral purpose. The judgment clarified the scope of the pious obligation, the role of the manager in a joint Hindu family, and the implications of legal necessity and limitation on such debts.
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