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2015 Supreme(Bom) 1258

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT NAGPUR
A.P. BHANGALE, J.
Prashant Bhagwandas Bajoriya – Appellant
Versus
Bharti Bharat Bajoriya & Ors. – Respondents
Appeal Against Order No.107 of 2014
Decided On : 14-08-2015

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
Mr. Firdos Mirza, Adv. for the Appellant
Mr. S.C. Bhalerao, Adv. for Respondent Nos.1 and 2

The main legal point established is the limited jurisdiction of the Probate Court, the applicability of procedural laws in granting relief, and the use of inherent power under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Headnote:

Probate - Indian Succession Act - Section 383, Section 41(b) of the Specific Relief Act, Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure - The judgment discusses the applicability of the Indian Succession Act, the limitations of the Probate Court, and the interpretation of procedural laws under the Code of Civil Procedure. It also highlights the court's reliance on legal principles to grant interim relief and preserve the status quo.

Fact of the Case:

The case involves a challenge to an interim injunction granted by the trial Court restraining the creation of third party rights in disputed property and withdrawal of funds from a Savings Bank Account. The dispute arises from a probate proceeding and the alleged fraudulent actions of the applicants.

Finding of the Court:

The trial Court found that the applicants fraudulently claimed to be legal heirs, and the grant of probate did not confer absolute title to the property. The court used inherent power under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure to grant interim relief and preserve the status quo.

Issues: The issues include the jurisdiction of the Court to grant interim injunction, the limitations of the Probate Court, and the applicability of procedural laws in granting relief.

Ratio Decidendi: The Court relied on the Indian Succession Act, the Specific Relief Act, and the Code of Civil Procedure to interpret the limitations of the Probate Court and the scope of procedural laws in granting interim relief.

Final Decision: The appeal from the order was disposed of, with the direction for the trial Court to expeditiously decide the objection to its jurisdiction if raised by the appellant.

JUDGMENT :

1. Heard.

2. Admit.

3. Record and proceedings are dispensed with by consent at the admission stage.

4. The challenge is to the order passed by the Civil Judge (Sr. Dn.), Yavatmal (trial Court) granting interim injunction dt.16.8.2014 below Exh.5 in M.J.C. No. 40 of 2014. The interim order restrained creation of third party rights in disputed property mentioned in para 5 of the application and also restrained withdrawal of amount from the Savings Bank Account No. 01190005930 in the State Bank of India at Main branch, Yavatmal.

5. The facts in the background are stated thus :M. J.C No. 62 of 2008 was filed for grant of Probate/ Letter of Administration allowed on 2.4.2012. Pursuant to the order of issuance of the Letter of Administration allegedly obtained by fraud, name of Bharat Bajoria was deleted from the proceedings and allottees (wife and son of said Bharat Bajoria) of the L/A were likely to sell the disputed properties and withdraw the sums deposited in the Savings Bank account (supra).

4. Objections of the appellant herein is that :

i) The proceeding under Section 383 of the Indian Succession Act is not tenable.

ii) The Court had no jurisdiction to grant interim injunction in view of Section 41 (b) of the Specific Relief Act. The provision of section 41 (b) of the Specific Relief Act lays down the circumstances under which the injunction order cannot be made.

iii) Relief of temporary injunction cannot be granted by the Testamentary Court.

5. The trial Court came to prima facie finding that though applicant no.3 in M.J.C. No.62 of 2008 was living, applicant nos. 1 and 2, fraudulently claiming that they are legal heirs of applicant no.3, have moved the Court for deleting the name of applicant no. 3 Bharat Bajoria. Applicants nos. 1 and 2 thereafter got their names mutated and were in the process to sell the disputed property (allegedly sold one property).

6. The question raised in this appeal is as to whether the trial Court was correct to grant interim injunction order impugned herein. The allottees of L/A were expected to administer the property left by the deceased. Letter of Administration did not vest any absolute legal title in applicant nos. 1 and 2 to sell the disputed property. Hence, it was considered as a fit case to use inherent power of the Court under Section 151 of the Code of Civil procedure and to inject applicants no. 1 and 2 from creating third party rights in respect of the disputed property and to restrain from withdrawing the money from the Savings Bank account (supra) till disposal of the main application. The object of the impugned order was to preserve the status quo as it is till the disposal of the M.J.C. 40 of 2014.

7. According to learned Advocate Mr. Mirza, in the ruling in Ramchandra Ganpatrao Hande vs. Vithalrao Hande reported in 2011 (4 ) Mh. L. J. 50, it is argued that the Indian Succession Act is a self-contained code insofar as the question of making an application for probate, grant or refusal of probate or an appeal carried against the decision of the probate Court. This is clearly manifested in the fascicule of the provisions of the Act. The probate proceedings shall be conducted by the probate Court in the manner prescribed in the Act and in no other ways. The grant of probate with a copy of the will annexed establishes conclusively as to appointment of the executor and valid execution of the will. Thus, it does no more than establish the factum of the will and the legal character of the executor. Probate Court does not decide any question of title or of existence of the property itself. A Testamentary Court is only concerned with finding out whether or not the testator executed the testamentary instrument of his free will. It is settled law that grant of a Probate or Letters of Administration does not confer title to property. They merely enable administration of the estate of the deceased. The jurisdiction of the Probate Court is limited being confined only to consider genuineness o












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