IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI
K.Manmadha Rao, J.
Sanagari Venkatalakshmi - Appellant
Versus
Sunkara Sreenivasa Rao - Respondent
C.R.P. No. 1850 of 2016
Decided On : 23-09-2023
Succession Certificate - Compensation Claim - Sec. 370 of the Indian Succession Act - [Sec. 370 of the Indian Succession Act] - The court discussed the requirement of a succession certificate for claiming compensation and cited the decision in 'Chitrapu Chinabapanaiah and Others vs. Union of India', 2004(3) ALD 692, which held that a succession certificate is not required for claiming compensation. The court concluded that the petitioner, as the sole successor of her deceased husband, is entitled to claim the interest lying in the share of her deceased father-in-law in total.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner filed a claim petition seeking compensation for the death of her father-in-law in a motor accident. The court allowed her to withdraw a sum of Rs.1,11,843.00 by premature encashment of FDR but did not grant any interest, stating that she needs to obtain an extension of the Succession Certificate for the remaining amount.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the petitioner, as the sole successor of her deceased husband, is entitled to claim the interest lying in the share of her deceased father-in-law in total, and allowed the Revision Petition.
Issues: The main issue was whether the petitioner, as the sole successor of her deceased husband, is entitled to claim the interest lying in the share of her deceased father-in-law in total without the need for an extension of the Succession Certificate.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the decision in 'Chitrapu Chinabapanaiah and Others vs. Union of India', 2004(3) ALD 692, which held that a succession certificate is not required for claiming compensation, and concluded that the petitioner is entitled to claim the interest without the need for an extension of the Succession Certificate.
Final Decision: The C.R.P is allowed, and the petitioner is entitled to claim the interest lying in the share of her deceased father-in-law in total as the sole successor of her deceased husband. There shall be no order as to costs.
JUDGMENT
1. This Revision Petition, under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, is preferred against the order, dtd. 17/3/2010, in I.A.No.556 of 2010 in O.P.No.325 of 1995 on the file of the Court of the I Additional District Judge, East Godavari, Rajahmundry, (in short 'the learned tribunal)" grant leave to the petitioner herein to withdraw an amount of Rs.1,11,843.00 with accrued interest and order to encash the same.
2. The petitioner herein has filed a claim petition seeking compensation for the death of her father-in-law Sanagari Venkata Ramanaiah, who died in a motor accident on 23/4/1994. As per Award an amount of Rs.6,47,372.00 was deposited, in which an amount of Rs.50,000.00 was withdrawn by the deceased husband of the petitioner out of his share of Rs.1,61,843.00 and remaining amount of Rs.1,11,843.00 was invested in fixed deposit. Subsequently during life time of husband of the petitioner filed a petition in I.A.No.1404 of 2003 seeking permission to withdraw his compensation amount, which was allowed in part on 20/8/2003, permitting him to withdraw Rs.50,000.00. In the meantime he died in a train accident on 13/9/2003, due to which the said amount of Rs.50,000.00 was reinvested in fixed deposit, which is lying in the name of deceased husband of the petitioner. Therefore, the petitioner filed before the learned tribunal seeking to declare the petitioner as sole successor of her deceased husband by impleading a party and she have also obtained succession certificate.
3. The learned tribunal allowed the said application on 17/3/2010 and permitted her with withdraw a sum of Rs.1,11,843.00 by premature encashment of FDR. But no interest is ordered holding that "since the relief is confined only to the amount mentioned in the Succession Certificate and the petitioner has to obtain extension of the Succession Certificate for the remaining amount". Therefore the present revision came to be filed.
4. Heard Mr. P. Rajesh Babu, learned counsel for the petitioner and Mrs. A. Jayanthi, learned Standing Counsel for the 3rd respondent.
5. During hearing learned counsel for the petitioner would mainly contend that the court below without appreciating the facts and circumstances on behalf of the petitioner no interest amount has been granted and permitted to withdraw only Rs.1,11,843.00 on the ground that the relief as claimed in the Succession Certificate is only Rs.1,11,843.00 and requires further orders for the remaining amount in the Succession Certificate, which is highly untenable and unreasonable. It is further contended that as per orders of the learned tribunal, the petitioner has obtained Succession Certificate, which is sufficient to prove the bonafide successors of the deceased. Therefore she is entitled for the claim pertaining to the deceased claim in total, but the learned tribunal strangely insisted for further orders in the Succession Certificate and expressed that there is dire necessity for money as the petitioner is starving for existence. Hence revision is liable to be allowed.
6. Whereas, learned Standing Counsel for the 3rd respondent reiterated the contentions urged in before the learned tribunal and contended that basing on the Succession Certificate the learned tribunal permitted her to with draw an amount of Rs.1,11,843.00 and there is no order to claim remaining amount. Therefore the learned tribunal rightly disallowed the petitioner to claim remaining amount.
7. Perused the record.
8. It is apparent on the face of the impugned order that the learned tribunal allowed the petitioner to withdraw an amount of Rs.1,11,843.00 basing on the Succession Certificate submitted by the petitioner. As per the Succession Certificate the petitioner confined only Rs.1,11,843.00 therefore the learned tribunal permitted her to withdraw the said amount only and held that the petitioner has to obtain extension of the Succession Certificate for the remaining amount. Learned counsel for the petitioner would contend that no
Legal heirs of deceased are not required to obtain a succession certificate for compensation amounts awarded for death claims.
Succession Certificate – Grant of Succession Certificate merely identifies hands in which death benefits/debts/securities be given – Scope to determining shares of parties would not be available in p....
Section 373 merely lays down that Court is required to be satisfied that there is ground for entertaining application namely by a person who desires to make a claim.
The succession certificate could be granted only in respect of `debts' and `securities' and the compensation amount under the Motor Vehicles Act did not come under `debts' or `securities'.
The Court cannot direct the deposit of charges for succession certificate for the entire claim/security when the petitioner is claiming only a portion of the security.
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.