In Brief
The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging the High Court's decision that a partition deed executed by Oubegaranadin in favour of his minor sons was invalid. Under customary Hindu law applicable to Christians in Puducherry, an absolute owner cannot create a valid partition deed to transfer property to his children during his lifetime. Such transfers must be effected through a will, gift deed, or donation inter vivos, complying with prescribed formalities including execution before a notary. Since the partition deed did not comply with these mandatory requirements, Oubegaranadin's decree declaring himself the absolute owner was valid and binding, and the sons could not claim ownership of the property based on the defective partition deed.
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