V. B. RAJU, J. ( 1 ) WHAT is challenged in this revision application is the view taken by the lower appellate Court that the appeal before it should be returned for presentation to the High Court and that the District Court is not competent to hear the appeal. ( 2 ) THE suit was one for accounts for the sum due after taking accounts and for an injunction to restrain the opponents from taking an objection to the petitioner taking part in a business. The suit was also for a declaration that a certain writing was illegal void and not binding upon the petitioner. The suit was also for a declaration that whatever property was acquired from the income of business was a joint Hindu family property and for a permanent injunction to restrain the opponents from obstructing the petitioner from doing Vahivat. The suit was also for a partition of property acquired from the income of the business. The suit was valued at Rs. 205/for the purpose of court-fees. The suit was originally filed in the Court of Civil Judge ( Junior Division ) but as by joint purshis the parties agreed that the value of the suit exceeded Rs. 10 0 the suit was transferred to the Civil Judge Senior Division. When the matter went up in appeal the appellate Court was of the view that the District Court was not competent to hear the appeal but only the High Court and the memorandum of appeal was ordered to be returned for presentation to the proper Court. This order is now challenged in revision. ( 3 ) AS the suit is one for a declaratory decree where consequential relief is claimed sec. 7 (iv) (c) of the Court-fees Act of 1870 is applicable but so far as partition of the property acquired from the income of the business is concerned it does not fall under sec. 7 at all. It is therefore contended that sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act applies and the value for the purpose of the jurisdiction should be the same as the value for the purpose of court-fees. It is also contended therefore that the value for the purpose of court-fee is that which is given by the plaintiff in his plaint namely Rs. 205. 00. It is therefore contended that the value for the purpose of jurisdiction is also Rs. It is also contended therefore that the value for the purpose of court-fee is that which is given by the plaintiff in his plaint namely Rs. 205. 00. It is therefore contended that the value for the purpose of jurisdiction is also Rs. 205/and that therefore the District Court is competent to hear the appeal. ( 4 ) SECTION 24 of the Bombay Civil Courts Act provides as under : -. . . . THE jurisdiction of a Civil Judge Junior Division extends to all original suits and proceedings of a civil nature wherein the subject matter does not exceed in amount or value ten thousand rupees. ( 5 ) SECTION 26 of the same Act provides as follows :-IN all suits decided by a Civil Judge of which the amount or value of the subject matter exceeds ten thousand rupees the appeal from his decision shall be direct to the High Court. ( 6 ) THE question therefore is what is the amount or value of the subject matter. Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act reads as follows :-WHERE in suits other than those referred to in the Court-fees Act 1870 sec. 7 paragraph v vi and ix and paragraph x clause (d) court-fees are payable ad valorem under the Court-fees Act 1870 the value as determinable for the computation of court-fees and the value for purposes of jurisdiction shall be the same. ( 7 ) THIS section deals with suits other than those referred to in the Court-fees Act 1870 sec. 7 paragraphs v vi and ix and paragraph x clause (d) where court-fee is payable ad valorem. Section 8 is in Part II of the Suits Valuation Act, which is, headed other suits Part I of the Suits Valuation Act is headed suits relating to land. Therefore on a first impression Part II deals with suits other than those relating to land. Admittedly the instant case relates to immoveable property and therefore relates to -land. But Part I of the Suits Valuation Act has not been applied to Bombay and Gujarat. The heading other suits given in Part II would mean suits other than those referred to in Part I and ordinarily the heading other suits of Part II would mean suits other than those relating to land In such a case sec. But Part I of the Suits Valuation Act has not been applied to Bombay and Gujarat. The heading other suits given in Part II would mean suits other than those referred to in Part I and ordinarily the heading other suits of Part II would mean suits other than those relating to land In such a case sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act would not be applicable to the instant suit which is one relating to land. But as already observed Part I is not applied to Bombay and Gujarat and the heading of Part II namely other suits would mean suits other than those to which Part I has been made applicable and if Part I has not been made applicable the heading other suits would mean all suits and not merely suits other than those relating to land. In this view section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act would be applicable to suits relating to land provided the other requirements of section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act are satisfied. One of the other requirements is that the suit should be one other than those referred to in the Court-fees Act 18707 sec. 7 paragraph v vi and ix and paragraph x clause (d ). That requirements is satisfied because it is common ground that the instant suit is one which falls under sec. 7 (iv) (b) and (c) The second requirement is whether in the instant case court-fees are payable ad valorem under the Court-fees Act of 1870. In the case of Bombay sec. 14 of the Bombay Finance Act 1932 provides that for Articles 1 6 7 12 14 17 18 19 20 and 21 of schedule II of the Court-fees Act of 1870 certain other entries shall be substituted in particular regarding item No. 17 the following shall be substituted:-17 Plaint or memorandum of appeal in each of the following suits:- (i) to alter or set aside a summary When the amount or value Ten decision or order of any of the of the property involved ex-rupees. Civil Courts not established by cedes five hundred rupees. Letters Patent or of any Revenue Court; (ii) to alter or cancel any entry in When the amount or value Fifteen a register of the names of proof the property involved rupees prietors of revenue paying does not exceed five estates; hundred rupees. Civil Courts not established by cedes five hundred rupees. Letters Patent or of any Revenue Court; (ii) to alter or cancel any entry in When the amount or value Fifteen a register of the names of proof the property involved rupees prietors of revenue paying does not exceed five estates; hundred rupees. (iii) to obtain a declaratory decree or order where no consequence. . . . . . . . . . Fifteen trial relief is prayed rupees (iv) to set aside alienation;. . . . . . . . . . Fifteen rupees (v) to set aside a decree or award; When the amount or value of the property involved Ten does not exceeds five rupees hundred rupees. (v) To set aside an adoption;. . . . . . . . . . Fifteen and rupees (vi) any other suit where it is not possible to estimate at a money value the subject matter in. . . . . . . . . . . Fifteen dispute and which is not other rupees wise provided for by this Act. ( 8 ) THIS new entry 17 in Schedule II therefore provided that in any other suit where it is not possible to estimate a money value the subject matter in dispute and which is not otherwise provided for by the Act the proper fee payable is Rs. 15. 00. In the case of all suits falling under sec. 7 of the Court-fees Act of 1870 the subject matter or the value is that stated in sec. 7. In a suit like this it is the value as made in the plaint. It depends on the estimation of the plaintiff. In all such cases it cannot be said that it is difficult to estimate the value because sec. 7 of the Court-fees Act 1870 leaves the estimation to the plaintiff. It is only when the plaintiff himself says that it is difficult to estimate that item No. 17 (vii) of Sch. II of the Court-fees Act 1870 would come into operation. When sec. 7 gives right to the plaintiff to estimate the value then Schedule I which refers to ad valorem fees applies to the valuation as made by the plaintiff in his plaint. ( 9 ) IN the instant case in so far as the suit falls under sec. 7 (iv) (b) and sec. When sec. 7 gives right to the plaintiff to estimate the value then Schedule I which refers to ad valorem fees applies to the valuation as made by the plaintiff in his plaint. ( 9 ) IN the instant case in so far as the suit falls under sec. 7 (iv) (b) and sec. 7 (iv) (c) of the Court-fees Act 1870 the plaintiff can put his own valuation and having put such a valuation he would have to pay ad valorem fees on such valuation. Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act would therefore apply. ( 10 ) BUT the real question is whether the instant suit falls under sec. 7 (iv) (b) or sec. 7 (iv) (c) or sec. 7 (v) or item 17 (ii) of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act of 1870. Section 7 (iv) (b) and sec. 7 (iv) (c) reads as follows :- (C) Suits to enforce the right to share in any property on the ground that it is joint family property; (d) Suits to obtain a declaratory decree or order where consequential relief is prayed. ( 11 ) SECTION 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act 1870 reads as follows:-IN suits for the possession of land houses and gardens-according to the value of the subject matter; and such value shall be deemed to be where the subject matter is land and. . . . . . Item No. 17 (vii) of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act 1870 reads as follows :- plaint or memorandum of appeal in each of the following suits:- (vii) any other suit where it is not possible to estimate at a money value the subject matter in dispute and which is not otherwise provided for by this Art Fifteen rupees. ( 12 ) IT is provided in sec. 6 of the Court fees Act of 1870 as follows:-EXCEPT in the Courts hereinbefore mentioned no document of any of the kinds specified as chargeable in the first or second schedule to this Act annexed shall be filed exhibited or recorded in any Court of Justice. or shall be received or furnished by any public officer unless in respect of such document there be paid a fee of an amount not less than that indicated by either of the said schedules as the proper fee for such document. or shall be received or furnished by any public officer unless in respect of such document there be paid a fee of an amount not less than that indicated by either of the said schedules as the proper fee for such document. ( 13 ) IN other words the court-fee chargeable either under the first or second schedule as the case may be should be affixed. The court-fee shown in the first schedule shall be charged at the ad valorem rate and that under the second schedule at the fixed rate. Section 7 of the Court-fees Act of 1870 provides for the computation of the amount of fees payable under the Act in certain suits. In certain suits sec. 7 allows the plaintiff to state the amount at which he values the relief sought. In certain other suits sec. 7 provides as to how the amount of fees payable under the Act is to be computed for instance in the case of suits falling under sec 7 on the principal money expressed to be secured by the instrument of mortgage. In certain other cases the amount is the amount of rent of immoveable property. It is provided in sec. 7 (ix) as follows:-IN suits against a mortgagee for the recovery of the property mortgaged and in suits by a mortgagee to foreclosure the mortgage or where the mortgage is made by conditional sale to have the sale declared absolute according to the principal money expressed to be secured by the instrument of mortgage. ( 14 ) IN certain suits sec. 7 refers to the market value of the land for instance para v (d) of sec. 7. Therefore sec. 7 of the Court-fees Act of 1870 refers to various modes of determining the amount at which the relief sought is valued. But in all cases to which sec. 7 applies there is no difficulty in estimating the subject-matter in dispute although in some cases sec. 7 gives the right to the plaintiff to put his own valuation. But apart from the suits mentioned in section 7 there may be other suits for instance suits to set aside an award and to set aside an adoption and for such suits a provision is made in item No. 17 of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act of 1870. If a suit is one of the classes mentioned in sec. But apart from the suits mentioned in section 7 there may be other suits for instance suits to set aside an award and to set aside an adoption and for such suits a provision is made in item No. 17 of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act of 1870. If a suit is one of the classes mentioned in sec. 7 then ad valorem court-fee should be paid because sec. 7 is not dealing with suits where it is not possible to estimate at a money value of the subject matter in dispute. It specifically provides for the manner of estimating the money value of the subject matter in dispute although in some cases it leaves it to the plaintiff to put his own valuation. Once a specific value is arrived at the ad valorem table must govern the court-fee payable. ( 15 ) THE next question is whether the suit in the instant case is one which falls under sec. 7 (iv) or sec. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act of 1870 or is one where it is not possible to estimate at a money value the subject matter of the dispute and which is not otherwise provided for by the Act. ( 16 ) IF we look at the plaint it contains alternative prayers. The plaint alleges that the plaintiff is the exclusive owner of certain property and in the alternative he claims to be a member of the joint family owning certain property. As regards the first the case obviously comes under para (v) of sec. 7 because he is claiming to be an exclusive owner and claims possession of certain property on the ground that he is an exclusive owner. ( 17 ) BUT it is contended that in the plaint as originally filed there is a contention that the plaintiff is an exclusive owner of the property and for possession as such exclusive owner. It is true that there is such a prayer in the plaint, which would bring it within the application of sec. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act of 1870. We have to consider the plaint as originally drafted and field if we are to decide the question of jurisdiction as to who is to hear the suit. But we are not concerned with that question now. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act of 1870. We have to consider the plaint as originally drafted and field if we are to decide the question of jurisdiction as to who is to hear the suit. But we are not concerned with that question now. The question before me is whether the High Court is to hear the appeal or the District Court is to hear the appeal. For that purpose we have to look at the decree and for this purpose we have to consider the plaint as amended at the time of the decree. By reason of the purshis of the plaintiff the prayer relating to exclusive ownership was given up and that there is nothing in the decree giving relief to the plaintiff as an exclusive owner. The appeal is by the plaintiff and there is nothing in the decree denying the right of the plaintiff as an exclusive owner. The appeal does not raise the question of exclusive ownership. In the appeal it is not contended by the plaintiff that the lower Court was wrong in refusing the relief based on exclusive ownership. Therefore for the purpose of the appeal we have to consider the decree appealed against and the matters, which are appealed against. In other words we have to look at the plaint as amended and for this purpose we have to ignore the fact that the plaint as originally drafted contains a prayer regarding exclusive ownership and a prayer for possession as such exclusive owner. Therefore the suit as it stood at the time of the decree would clearly fall within the scope of sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act of 1870 and the plaintiff would have a right to value the relief sought at his own valuation namely Rs. 205. 00. The court-fee payable would then depend upon ad valorem table in Schedule I Section 8 of the Suits Valuation Act would also come into application. ( 18 ) IT is in order to make sec. 26 of the Bombay Civil Courts Act applicable that sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act has been passed. The preamble of the Suits Valuation Act provides that Whereas it is expedient to prescribe the mode of valuing certain suits for the purpose of determining the jurisdiction of Courts with respect thereto. 26 of the Bombay Civil Courts Act applicable that sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act has been passed. The preamble of the Suits Valuation Act provides that Whereas it is expedient to prescribe the mode of valuing certain suits for the purpose of determining the jurisdiction of Courts with respect thereto. It is therefore clear that for the purpose of determining the jurisdiction under sec. 26 of the Civil Courts Act we have to look at the Suits Valuation Act and wherever it applies to sec. 8 of that Act. As already held considering the plaint in the instant case as it stood amended at the time of the decree and considering also the terms of the decree sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 applies and for the purpose of jurisdiction it would be the District Court that would have the right to hear the appeal and not the High Court. ( 19 ) IN order therefore to decide whether the appeal lies to the High Court or not. we have to determine the valuation of the subject matter in the suit decided by the Civil Judge that is we have to determine the value of the subject matter in this suit at the time of the decree because after the plaint is filed and before the suit is decided the plaint can be amended. If it is amended the amendment would have retrospective effect and therefore we have to look at all the amendments of the plaint after the plaint is filed and before the date of the decision passed by the Civil Judge. ( 20 ) THE plaintiff also alternatively alleges that he is a member of the joint family and as such a member he has certain rights. The plaintiff prays that he be allowed to enforce those rights as a member of the joint family. This alternative prayer clearly comes within the scope of section 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act of 1870. Section 7 (iv) (b) reads as follows:- (1) The amount of fee payable under this Act in the suits next hereinafter mentioned shall be computed as follows:- (iv) In suits (b) to enforce the right to share in any property on the ground that it is joint family property in all such suits the plaintiff shall state the amount at which he values the relief sought. The alternative prayer clearly comes within these words. As regards this alternative prayer the Court-fees Act allows the plaintiff to state the amount at which the value of the relief is sought. Once that is done the court-fee payable is determined by the ad valorem table of Schedule I of the Court-fees Act of 1870 and in such a case sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act would apply. The plaintiff having put the value at Rs. 205/the appeal would lie to the District Court and not to the High Court. . ( 21 ) IT is however contended by the learned counsel for the opponents that a suit for partition comes either under sec. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act 1870 or under item 17 (vii) of Schedule II of the same Act and he relies on Shanker Maruti v. Bhagwant Gunaji 49 Bom. L. R. 72 which is a Full Bench case. The view previously taken by the Bombay High Court that a suit for partition by a person in constructive possession with other coparceners of a joint family property and for separate possession would fall under sec. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act 1870 was reversed by the Full Bench which held that where a person in constructive possession asks for separate possession that is not a suit for possession or a suit for ejectment. Therefore it was held that the suit would not fall under sec 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act 1870 That was the main decision of the Pull Bench. Incidentally the question whether the suit fell under section 7 of the Court-fees Act 1870 was considered. A reference was made to the case of Motibhai v. Haridas I. L. R. 22 Bom. 315 where it was held that such a suit fell under section 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 A reference was also made to the judgment of Batchelor J. who tried to distinguish between the word share and the word a share. Batchelor J. expressed the opinion that the suit falling under sec. 7 (iv) (b) is one for enforcement of what one might call an abstract claim or right. This was the main reason for coming to the conclusion expressed by Weston J. who was one of the Judges of the Pull Bench. Batchelor J. expressed the opinion that the suit falling under sec. 7 (iv) (b) is one for enforcement of what one might call an abstract claim or right. This was the main reason for coming to the conclusion expressed by Weston J. who was one of the Judges of the Pull Bench. Weston J. observed that in these circumstances in view of the weight of authority it should now be declared that the Bombay decisions are not good laws and that the Bombay High Court should fall in line with other High Courts and should hold that in a suit for partition where the plaintiff is in constructive possession with other coparceners of a joint family property the suit falls under Article 17 clause (7) of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act 1870 and according to the Bombay amendment the court-fee payable in the present type of suit is a fixed court-fee of Rs. 15. 00. If a Judge or Judges of Bench comes to a certain conclusion because the weight of authority is in favour of that conclusion that would be with great and profound respect to base the decision on the weight of authority and not on the individual judgment of the Judges constituting the Bench and that would be contrary to the provisions of sec. 165 of the Evidence Act and Art. 219 of the Constitution and to the oath taken by the Judges under the Government of India Act the terms of which are substantially the same as those under the Constitution of India But with great respect I agree with the Pull Bench Decision in 49 Bom. L. R. 72 that such a suit would not fall under sec. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act 1870 With great respect I agree with the conclusion of the Pull Bench that the previous view of the Bombay High Court on that point was not quite sound. ( 22 ) THE learned Judge of the Bombay High Court Weston J. has not given his own reasons for holding that such a suit would not fall under sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 In fact the view has been taken in the earlier case of Motibhai v. Haridas I. L. R. 22 Bom. 315 that such a suit would fall under sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 In fact the view has been taken in the earlier case of Motibhai v. Haridas I. L. R. 22 Bom. 315 that such a suit would fall under sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 ( 23 ) IN the instant case it cannot be held that such a suit would fall under item 17 of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act 1870 as the plaintiff himself has put a clear valuation of the subject matter. When the plaintiff is able to put the valuation of the subject matter how can it be said that it is not possible to put a valuation. ( 24 ) THE learned counsel for the opponents also relied on Ramaswamy v. Sivasubramania A. I. R 1943 Madras 655 decided by a single Judge of the Madras High Court. The real question involved before him was entirely different. The question before him was whether in a suit for partition of the plaintiffs share in the family estate the entire property or the plaintiffs share in the property should be valued. The learned Judge held that it was not necessary to value the entire estate but it was sufficient to value the share of the plaintiff in the joint family estate. The learned Judge did not discuss the question whether sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 would be applicable to such a suit. It is therefore not necessary to consider this decision as there is no discussion on the question whether sec. 7 (iv) (b) of the Court-fees Act 1870 would be applicable to such a suit. ( 25 ) ANOTHER contention urged by the learned counsel for the opponents is that there was a joint purshis of the parties stating that for the purpose of jurisdiction the subject matter did not exceed Rs. 10 0 and that therefore this purshis is binding on both the parties. That purshis is only for the purpose of jurisdiction. There was no joint purshis stating that the value of the subject matter for the purpose of court-fees did not exceed Rs. 10 0 Under sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act it is the valuation for the purposes of court-fees that governs the subject matter for the purpose of jurisdiction in certain matters and not vice-versa. There was no joint purshis stating that the value of the subject matter for the purpose of court-fees did not exceed Rs. 10 0 Under sec. 8 of the Suits Valuation Act it is the valuation for the purposes of court-fees that governs the subject matter for the purpose of jurisdiction in certain matters and not vice-versa. Even in those matters it is not the value of the subject matter for the purpose of jurisdiction that governs the subject matter for the purpose of court-fees. ( 26 ) AS already observed item No. 17 of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act 1870 cannot apply to this case because this is not a case in which it is not possible for the plaintiff to put the valuation of the subject matter because the plaintiff himself has put a valuation. It is therefore not possible to hold that item No. 17 of Schedule II of the Court-fees Act 1870 applies to the instant suit. In the plaint there is no prayer for possession. The prayer is only for partition and for an injunction. Therefore clearly the suit does not fall under sec. 7 (v) of the Court-fees Act 1870 ( 27 ) THE contentions of the learned counsel for the opponents are therefore rejected. The revision application is allowed. The order of the Assistant Judge returning the memo of appeal to the appellant is set aside and the lower appellate Court is directed to dispose of the appeal. There will be no order as to costs. Application allowed. .