PATNA HIGH COURT
Mungeshwar Sahoo, J.
Smt.Radhika Devi
Versus
Ajay Kumar Sharma
First Appeal No. 275 of 2005
Decided On : NOVEMBER 26, 2010
Probate - Indian Succession Act - Section 278
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiff filed a title suit under Section 278 of the Indian Succession Act alleging that his father had left a registered Will in his favor. The defendants objected, claiming the Will was forged and that the property was joint family property.
Finding of the Court:
The court found the Will to be genuine and the testator to be of sound mind at the time of execution. However, it held that no letters of administration could be granted for the joint family property mentioned in the probate application.
Issues: Validity and genuineness of the Will, unexplained suspicious circumstances, entitlement to letters of administration, and sustainability of the judgment and order.
Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that a Will can only dispose of the testator's own property and cannot be executed with respect to undivided shares of joint family property. It also highlighted the burden of proof on the propounder of the Will and the limited extent to which the decision of the probate court is conclusive.
Final Decision: The appeal was allowed, the impugned judgment and decree were set aside, and the probate application was dismissed.
Mungeshwar Sahoo, J.
1. The defendant Nos. 1 and 2 have filed this First Appeal against the judgment and Order dated 29.6.2005 passed by Sri Prakash Chandra Gupta, 7th Addl. District Judge, Gaya in Title Suit No. 18 of 1999/2 of 1994 allowing the application for probate and letters of administration filed by respondent No.1.
2. The respondent No.1, Ajay Kumar Sharma filed the aforesaid title suit under Section 278 of the Indian Succession Act alleging that late Fateh Bahadur Singh, the father of the plaintiff died on 14.5.1991 at Gaya leaving a registered Will in favour of the plaintiff dated 13.5.1981 duly executed and attested. The plaintiff also averred that the value of the property which may come to him is Rs. 2,32,758/- Most of the property are within the jurisdiction of Gaya Court. Both the attesting witnesses are dead but the scribe Chandrika Prasad is still alive. The Will was annexed with the application.
3. The appellants filed separate objection to the said application. The brother of Ajay Kumar Sharma, namely, Bishnu Kumar Sharma and wife namely, Lalima Devi filed another objection. The other brother, Dr. Virendra Kumar Sharma who is appellant No. 2 as stated above filed separate objection. The main objection is that the Will in question is not genuine and was never executed by Fateh Bahadur Singh. He never intended to execute any Will nor there was any occasion or reason to execute the same. He never instructed any scribe for drafting a Will. The alleged Will was never read over and explained to Fateh Bahadur Singh nor he ever asked anyone to attest the Will and the attesting witnesses were never known to him. Thus, the Will in question is a forged and fabricated document. The brothers, i.e., Virendra Kumar Sharma and Bishnu Kumar Sharma never separated from their father rather they were living with their father, Fateh Bahadur Singh. Virendra Kumar Sharma became a medical graduate by dint of his merit as a result of which his father, Fateh Bahadur Singh, has high degree of love and affection for him and he had no grievance against him. Ajay Kumar Sharma, the third son was very mischievous from very beginning and the second son, Bishnu Kumar Sharma could not read beyond B.Sc. The defendant No. 2, Dr. Virendra Kumar Sharma, had given Mukhagni and perform Shradh of his father at Gaya as he was posted at Patna at the time of his fathers death. In the objection of defendant No. 2, the history of ancestor of the family has been described which are not very much relevant for the purpose of this probate case.
4. The further objection is that the property at Gaya is joint family property which was ancestral property inherited by Fateh Bahadur Singh. It was stated that Gulab Kuer executed a deed of gift in the name of Fateh Bahadur, Singh but in fact it was in lieu of service rendered by Dudheshwar Nath Singh who was father of Fateh Bahadur Singh. To grab the property situated at Gaya the plaintiff fabricated the alleged Will. None of the next doors neighbours were made attesting witnesses to the Will which shows that the Will is forged and manufactured. At the time of execution of the Will, the youngest daughter, Meera Singh was unmarried and no provision was made for appellant No. 1, Smt. Radhika Devi, the wife of Fateh Bahadur Singh. The mother, namely, Smt. Radhika Devi is residing with defendant No. 2, Dr. Virendra Prasad Sharma. The family still constitute joint Hindu family governed by Mitakshara School of Hindu Law. In the year 1981, when the Will was executed, Fateh Bahadur Singh had no definite share and, therefore, no details of property has been mentioned in the Will which shows that the Will is forged. Partition Suit No. 123 of 1993 is pending in the Court of Sub- Judge, Jehanabad where the title and share of the parties is to be decided regarding the property which are still joint. Since the alleged Will does not disclose the list of the property, no letters of administration can be granted with resp
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