Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (a) This Act may be called the Mappilla Marumakkattayam Act, 1939.
2. (b) It shall apply to all Mappillas following the Marumakkattayam Law, who are either domiciled in the State of Tamil Nadu, or have property situate within the State of Tamil Nadu.

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,-

1. (a) "Anandravan" means any member of a tarwad or tavazhi, as the case may be, other than the karnavan.
2. (b) "Karnavan" means the oldest major male member of a tarwad or tavazhi, as the case may be, in whom the right to management of its properties vests or in the absence of such a male member, the oldest major female member; or where by custom or family usage, the right to such management vests in the oldest major female member, such female member.
3. (c) "Major" means a person who has attained eighteen years of age.
4. (d) "Marumakkattayam" means the system of inheritance in which descent is traced in the female line.
5. (e) "Minor" means a person who has not attained eighteen years of age.
6. (f) "Tarwad" means a joint family which includes all its members with community of property governed by the Marumakkattayam Law.
7. (g) "Tavazhi" means a branch of a tarwad consisting of a female, her children and all her descendants in the female line.