IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
K. MANMADHA RAO, J.
Dandu Sreemannarayana Reddy – Appellant
Versus
Dandu Venkateswara Reddy And 7 Others – Respondents
Civil Miscellaneous Second Appeal No.90 of 2011
Decided on : 03-02-2023
Hindu Succession Act - Section 15 - Land - Share - Decreed - Seeking for granting succession certificate - 1st respondent herein filed SOP No.on the file of Principal Junior Civil Judge, Ongole seeking for granting succession certificate in favour of petitioner empowering him to receive Rs.50,000/- being his 1/4th share of total amount mentioned in petition schedule and for costs and same was dismissed with costs. Being not satisfied with same, he preferred A.S.No. before II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ongole and the same was allowed vide judgment dated setting aside order and decree in SOP No. dated on file of lower Court holding that the petitioner is entitled to 1/4th share, respondents No.1 and 2 are entitled to 1/4th share, respondent No.3 to 5 are entitled to 1/4th share and 6th respondent is entitled to 1/4th share out of amount of late lying with 7th respondent and also they are entitled to receive the same from the 7th respondent - Held, Court observed that as per Section 15(1)(a) property of a Hindu female dying intestate shall devolve upon her children including the children of pre-deceased children and also her husband - In this case, admittedly late had no children and her husband pre-deceased her - So as per Section 15 (1)(b) property shall devolve upon heirs of her husband and in absence of heirs of husband, it shall devolve upon her mother and father - Petitioner and respondents 1 to 6 came forward stating that they are legal heirs of husband by name which is not denied by 8th respondent, who is claiming amounts of Janikamma with 7th respondent - Facts and circumstances of case and submissions made by both learned counsels and on perusing the citations referred to above, it reveal that no need to interfere in judgment passed by the first appellate Court - Court of opinion that first appellate Court has rightly allowed the Appeal Suit, which was based on proper appreciation of evidence - As such, same warrants no interference from this Court - Civil Miscellaneous Second Appeal is dismissed
JUDGMENT :
The present Appeal arises against the judgment and decree dated 07.09.2011 in A.S.No.132 of 2010 on the file of the Court of the II Additional District Judge, Ongole, Prakasam District reversing the decree or order dated 21.06.2010 passed in S.O.P. No.13 of 2006 on the file of the Court of the Principal Junior Civil Judge, Ongole.
2. A perusal of the record shows that the 1st respondent herein filed SOP No.13 of 2006 on the file of Principal Junior Civil Judge, Ongole seeking for granting succession certificate in favour of the petitioner empowering him to receive Rs.50,000/- being his 1/4th share of the total amount mentioned in the petition schedule and for costs and the same was dismissed with costs. Being not satisfied with the same, he preferred A.S.No.132 of 2010 before the II Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ongole and the same was allowed vide judgment dated 7.09.2011 setting aside the order and decree in SOP No.13 of 2006 dated 21.6.2010 on the file of lower Court holding that the petitioner is entitled to 1/4th share, respondents No.1 and 2 are entitled to 1/4th share, respondent No.3 to 5 are entitled to 1/4th share and 6th respondent is entitled to 1/4th share out of the amount of late Janikamma lying with the 7th respondent and also they are entitled to receive the same from the 7th respondent. Challenging the same, the 8th respondent in AS No.132 of 2010 i.e., the appellant herein has preferred the present CMSA.
3. For the sake of convenience, the parties will hereinafter be referred to as arrayed in AS. Brief facts of the case are that Late Dandu Jankamma is the legally wedded wife of Late Dandu Seetharami Reddy, who is the 1st respondent, and they have not any issue. Therefore, the said Seetharami Reddy married one Late Seshamma as per Hindu Sastras and gave birth to three sons and one daughter namely (1) Dandu Venkateswara Reddy (2) Ramachandra Reddy (3) Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Seetharavamma, who is the 6th respondent. Later, Seetharami Reddy died intestate in the year 1951. His third son Vijay Bhaskar Reddy died leaving behind his wife and daughters, who are respondents No.4 and 5. Seetharami Reddy’s second wife Seshamma also died. Seetharami Reddy’s second son Rama Chandra Reddy also died leaving behind respondents No.1 and 2. Thus the appellant and respondents 1 to 6 are the legal heirs of Seetharami Reddy. Late Janikamma being the first wife of Seetharami Reddy lived separately from him and received maintenance from her husband. She had two Vikas Cash Certificates of Rs.50,000/- each. The 7th respondent is the Branch Manager of the said Bank. Janikamma died intestate on 4.4.2000 leaving behind the appellant and respondents No.1 to 6 as her legal heirs as per Hindu Succession Act to succeed to her amounts. While things stood thus, the 8th respondent, who is the appellant herein has issued notice to the 7th respondent Bank claiming for payment of the entire deposit amount on the ground that he is the sole legal heir of his father Balarami Reddy, who was nominated by Janikamma. It is stated that as per law, legal heirs of Late Janikamma are entitled to receive the said amounts lying with the 7th respondent. Neither the nominee nor his legal heirs are entitled to the said amounts.
4. The 7th respondent has filed counter stating that it will pay as per the directions of the Court subject to the production of necessary documents by the persons entitled to receive the amount. The C.D file by the 8th respondent was dismissed on 27.7.2006.
5. The 8th respondent has also filed counter admitting that late Dandu Janikamma married late Seetharami Reddy and her relationship with the appellant and respondents No.1 to 6. He also stated that the said Janikamma had no issues because of which Seetharami Reddy married one Seshamma as second wife and later she died intestate. Janikamma separated from husband after he married Seshamma. Janikamma lived with Dandu Balaramireddy till her death. This respondent Balara
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