THE HIGH COURT OF PATNA
NAVANITI PRASAD SINGH, J.
Smt. Sharda Devi: Petitioner
Vs.
Santosh Kumar Sinha: Opp. Party
C.R. No. 2017 of 2005
Decided on: 4.7.2006
Limitation Act, 1963-Article 137-Revocation application is not suit or a petition, it is an application under Article 137 that would apply and not article 100. (Para 4)
AIR 1985 Punjab and Haryana 211-Referred to.
Indian Succession Act, 1925-Section 203-Petitioner had full knowledge of letter of Administration case-But not pursued-Revocation application filed after thirteen years of grant of letter of Administration a false ground that she came to know of the said proceedings recently-Petitioner by filing revocation application chose to ignore the probate proceeding that amounts to waiver of right to challenge-Application barred by limitation and waiver.
(Paras 4 & 5)
AIR 1947 Pat 434, AIR 1959 Pat 570-Distinguished.
Heard.
2. This is an application by the petitioner against the order passed by the District Judge, Patna in Revocation Case No. 109 of 2000 by which the learned District Judge has dismissed the case as barred by limitation. The parties were noticed and have appeared and argued at length.
3. One late Ishwari Prasad son of late Tejan Lal died on 7.8.1970. The opposite party Santosh Kumar Sinha filed a Letter of Administration Case No. 21 of 1976 before the District Judge, Patna based on a will dated 5.8.1970 said to have been executed by said late Ishwari Prasad. The Letter of Administration was granted by the District Judge, Patna on 17.12.1987.
4. The case of petitioner was that in course of mutation proceedings recently she carne to know of the said proceedings and, as such, being the daughter of late Ishwari Prasad, she filed the Probate Case. On notice being issued, the opposite party who had been granted the Letter of Administration for the estate of late Ishwari Prasad appeared and objected. He clearly stated that the petitioner had knowledge of these proceedings as far back as in 1981 which is evident from an earlier revocation proceedings initiated by her being Revocation Case No. 59 of 1976 in respect of another Letter of Administration. The learned counsel appearing for the opposite party has referred to order dated 3.4.1981 passed by the learned Additional District Judge III, Patna in Revocation Case No.59 of 1976 between the parties. In the said order, it is clearly noted that the opposite party had filed a Letter of Administration Case No. 21 of 1976 on basis of will executed by late Ishwari Prasad and which was pending. This, it is submitted, was a clear notice to the petitioner of the proceedings for grant of letter of Administration but she did not take any action to safeguard her interest, if she really was the daughter of late Ishwari Prasad. It is submitted on behalf of opposite party that having come to know of the said proceedings and taken no action even after Letter of Administration was granted in the said proceedings on 17.12.1987 nor having contested any proceedings by entering a caveat, the petitioner had waived her right or for that matter acquiescence and, therefore, the delay in challenge was fatal. He also referred to Article 100 of the Limitation Act. On the contrary, the learned counsel for the petitioner has relied on two judgments of this Court for the proposition that mere delay in filing revocation application, as contemplated under Section 263 of the Indian Succession Act, is not fatal. I have examined the said two judgments. The first judgment is Mt. Sheopati Kuer Vs. Ramakant Dikshit and Ors., AIR (34) 1947 Patna 434 which, in paragraph-21 of the reports, holds that delay in applying for revocation of probate is fatal only when from circumstances attendant upon the delay an inference of waiver can reasonably be made mere delay, without more is not bar to revocation. It goes further to say that acquiescence may be inferred from circumstances. In my opinion, the judgment is of no help to the petitioner. If anything it is an authority which can be used against the petitioner for in the present case, it is clear that the petitioner had full knowledge of the Letter of Administration Case in respect of the will or her father as far back as in 1981 though she was aware of the legal consequences as she was fighting and contesting another Probate Case. By filing revocation application, she chose to ignore the said proceedings. This is clearly a case of waiver if not acquiescence. Similarly, in the case of Mutukdhari Singh Vs. Smt. Prem Debi and Ors., AIR 1959 Patna 570, with reference to the said earlier decision, the same proposition has been reiterated. The answer would also be the same as given above. On the other hand, the learned counsel for opposite party has relied on a Division Bench judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the case of Hari Narain and Ors. Vs. Subhash Chander and
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