1990 Supreme(Kar) 118
Karnataka High Court
G.M.Mascarenhas - Appellant
Versus
R.Venkatachalam - Respondent
Decided On : 03-13-90
PROB.C.P. : 13 of 1989
K.R.D.KARANTH, S.VIJAYASHANKAR
The main legal point established in the judgment is that the grant of probate does not decide any question of title of the deceased to the properties bequeathed in the Will, and anyone who stands to gain by the absence or the invalidation of the Will is entitled to oppose the grant of probate.
Headnote:
Caveat - Competence of Caveator - Indian Succession Act - Section 283, Section 284 - The judgment discusses the maintainability of the caveat and the locus standi of the Caveator to lodge the caveat. It highlights the nature of the requirements entitling a person to lodge a caveat against the grant of probate or letters of administration, emphasizing that the grant of probate does not decide any question of title of the deceased to the properties bequeathed in the Will.
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner questioned the competence of the caveat and objected to the caveat filed by the Caveator. The Caveator sought to oppose the grant of probate under the Indian Succession Act for the Will left by Miss. Medappa, claiming joint proprietorship of the Home School and interest in the estate of the deceased.
Finding of the Court:
The court analyzed the nature of the requirements entitling a person to lodge a caveat against the grant of probate, emphasizing that the grant of probate does not decide any question of title to the properties covered by the Will. The court found that the caveator had no locus standi to lodge the caveat and declared it to be not maintainable.
Issues: The issues involved the competence of the caveat and the locus standi of the Caveator to lodge the caveat, as well as the nature of the requirements entitling a person to lodge a caveat against the grant of probate.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the grant of probate does not decide any question of title of the deceased to the properties bequeathed in the Will and discussed the principles regarding the maintainability of the caveat and the locus standi of the Caveator to lodge the caveat.
Final Decision: The court held that the caveator had no locus standi to lodge the caveat and declared it to be not maintainable.
( 1 ) THE petitioner has questioned the competence of the caveat or and objects to the caveat. Petitioner applied on 31-7-1989, under the indian Succession Act, ('the Act' ) for the grant of a probate in respect of the Will left by Miss. Medappa; one of the items of the estate of the deceased is a school called 'home School', in bangalore. The petition was advertised in Times of India (Bangalore edition) dated 2-9-1989. The caveator filed his Caveat on 18-8-1989 wherein only a cryptic statement was made to the effect that nothing be done in the matter of the estate of the deceased without notice to the Caveator. The Caveator also filed LA. No. I seeking a direction to the State Bank of India not to permit the petitioner or anyone claiming under him to operate the S. B. Account which was a joint S. B. Account opened by the deceased along with the caveator (obviously, in connection with the administration of the Home School ). LA. No. II is filed by the Caveator seeking permission to amend the Statement of Objections. However, the learned counsel for the petitioner objected to the locus standi of the caveator, contending that, the Caveator has not disclosed his interest in the estate of the deceased, and that, in case, he was claiming a paramount title over any of the property, his remedy is elsewhere. The learned counsel for the Caveator, contended that, the Caveator was a joint proprietor of the Home School and there were litigations between the deceased and the Caveator; in these circumstances, he was vitally interested in opposing the grant of probate. Therefore, the question to be considered at this stage, pertains to the maintainability of the caveat and the locus standi of the Caveator to lodge the caveat. Section 283 (1) (c) contemplates issuance of citations calling upon all persons claiming to have any interest in the estate of the deceased to come and see the proceedings before the grant of probate or letters of administration. Section 284 (1) states that caveats against the grant of probate or administration may be lodged. The caveat is to be "as nearly as circumstances admit" to be in the form set forth in Schedule V to the act. Nothing turns out of this form of caveat, because it is only a form in general terms, though mr. Vijayashankar tried to sustain support from it to his contention; the generality of the form cannot widen the scope of the main provision, if, otherwise, said main provision does not permit a wider scope to it. The question pertains to the nature of the requirements entitling a person to lodge caveat against grant of probate or letters of administration. The scope of a caveat requires disclosure of materials to show that probate should not be granted to the Will. " The only question germane for the Court to consider at the time of making a grant of the probate of a Will are questions relating to the testamentary capacity of the testator whose Will has to be probated and the due execution of that Will by the testator. The probate of a Will is in the nature of a certificate of the Court stating first that the last Will of the testator has been proved before the Court and secondly, that the administration of the property and credit of the deceased and in any way concerning his Will is granted to a particular individual, usually the executor in the Will, coupled with a record of an undertaking by such grantee of the probate to administer the estate and to make a full and true inventory of the property and credit of the deceased and exhibit the same in Court within six months from the date of the grant or within such further time as the Court may from time to time appoint and also to render to the Court a true account of such property and credit within one year from such date or within such further time, as the Court may from time to time appoint. The probate neither settles construction of the provisions contained in the Will nor decides question of title to the properties cover