He attested brother’s sale deed; HC cites oral partition, family loses 3.5 acres claim

What is the validity of oral partition in property related cases, especially when related documents support the claim? A recent judgment of the Madras High Court is important in this regard since it lays down a key principle: when a person formally attests or signs a sale deed involving a family member, in this case, a brother, it is presumed that the person was aware of the contents of the document and understood the transaction. Such a person cannot later claim that they had no knowledge of the details of the deal.The ruling had significant consequences for the children of a family. They ultimately lost their claim over 3.5 acres of ancestral land and were left with only 50 cents.What the case is aboutThe dispute goes back to a family who had four sons.