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2016 Supreme(Pat) 755

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
SHIVAJI PANDEY, J.
Smt. Bimla Devi @ Bimal Devi W/O Rabindra Singh Alive - Appellants
Versus
Uma Devi W/O Mrityunjay Kumar - Respondents
Miscellaneous Appeal No. 145 of 2013
Decided On : 03-03-2016

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellants : Mr. Nagendra Rai, Mr. Navin Nikunj.
For the Respondents: Mr. Amit Srivastava, Mr. Girish Pandey.

Headnote:Indian Succession Act, 1925–Section 63–Will–Attestation by witnesses–A person who puts his signature either at the end of instrument or somewhere on the instrument, itself would suggest that he is witness to the execution of the document and there is no necessity to make such statement in the document–Contention of respondent that for valid proof of proper attestation, recital of attesting witness in the document is essential ingredients to indicate "animus attestandi" is not correct. (Paras 24 & 25)

       Indian Succession Act, 1925–Section 264 and Section 63–Probate of a will–For probate of will, it requires proper execution in terms of Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act and Section 68 of the Evidence Act–It is duty of propounder to show that testator of will has executed in the sound state of mind after understanding contents made thereunder which may infuse solemnity in the document–Testamentation of will interfere with line of succession which may create suspicious circumstances in normal situation but tertator executes the will either depriving natural heir or reducing share creates suspicious circumstance, it will be duty of propounder of will to dispel all doubt surrounding the will to the satisfaction of court–If the careator takes the plea of fraud, misrepresentation, coercion, in the event, onus lies upon objector to prove the same–Mere registration of will ipso facto does not dispel all suspicious circumstance, it is duty of propounder to remove all suspicious circumstances arround the will. (Para 40)

       AIR 1969 SC 1147: (1969) 1 SCC 573; AIR 1955 SC 346; AIR 1954 Pat 360; AIR 1972 Pat 214: 1972 PLJR 358; AIR 1990 SC 1742; 2007 (2) PLJR 594; AIR 1995 SC 1684; 2008 (1) PLJR (SC) 61; 2001 (4) PLJR (SC) 147; AIR 1962 SC 567; AIR 2009 SC 1766: (2009) 3 SCC 687; AIR 2005 4362: (2005) 8 SCC 67; (2005)2 SCC 784: 2005 (2) PLJR (SC) 154; AIR 1995 SC 1684: (1995) 4 SCC 459; (2015) 8 SCC 615; AIR 1959 SC 443; AIR 1990 SC 396; (2003) 8 SCC 531; AIR 1962 Mad. 111; AIR 1962 Mad. 127; AIR 1983 Ori. 24–Referred.

JUDGMENT :

Heard learned counsel for the appellant and learned counsel for the respondent.

2. In the present appeal the appellant is challenging the judgment and order dated 8.1.2013 passed by the Additional District Judge I, Chapra in Probate Case No.38 of 2007 by which the court below has refused to grant probate in favour of the appellant.

3. In the present appeal the testator, late Jagdish Singh, has executed a Will in favour of the appellant on 13.11.2003. Claim has been made that the appellant and her husband looking after Jagdish Singh and he out of love and affection looking to the service rendered to him executed the Will and in terms of the Will the right of Jagdish Singh will be deemed to have been transferred in favour of the legatee, Bimla Devi. At the time of execution of the Will Sudama Pandit and Ashok Singh were the attesting witnesses. The Will was scribed by Shiv Dayal Prasad and the testator, namely, Jagdish Singh, died on 10.6.2004. The appellant filed a probate case which was registered as Probate Case No.38 of 2007.

4. When the recitals were published, Uma Devi, has filed a caveat and objection, there the plea was taken that Uma Devi is daughter of late Jagdish Singh. After the death of her mother she was living along with her father and looking after him and was rendering all sorts of service and love to her father. It has further been said that after the death of Jagdish Singh she came in possession of the land and mutation was also done. Uma Devi has claimed that the said Will is fraudulent and manufactured document confer no right and seriously objected granting probate in favour of the appellant.

5. During the trial seven witnesses were examined on behalf of the appellant, namely, A.W.1, Ashok Singh, and A.W.2, Sudama Pandi, are attesting witnesses. A.W.3, Surendra Singh is cousin brother-in-law of Jagdish Singh nephew of Veer Nath Singh, father-in-law of Jagdish Singh. A.W.4, Sukhnandan Singh, resident of the same village. A.W.5, Md. Khalil is co-villager. A.W.6, Bimla Devi, is legatee. A.W.7, Dhirendra Singh, is co-villager who produced mortgaged deed with the conditional sale deed.

6. The respondent, Uma Devi, has also produced ten witnesses, namely, O.P.W.No.1, Ganesh Singh, co-villager of Bimla Devi. O.P.W. No. 2, Bindu Devi, is cousin mother-in-law of Bimla Devi, O.P.W. No. 3 Sarsawati Devi, mother-in-law of Bimla Devi, O.P.W. No. 4, Lal Babu Rai is co-villager. O.P.W. No. 5, Anandi Rai-formal witness, ex-Mukhiya of same Panchayat. O.P.W. No. 6, Kameshwar Rai - a formal witness who has proved doctors prescription. O.P.W. No. 7 Ram Niawash Tiwary, also proved doctors prescription. O.P.W. No. 8 Binay Kumar Singh formal witness who has proved rent receipt. O.P.W. No. 9 Haribansh Singh-son-in-law of Sarsawati Devi (O.P.3). O.P.W. No. 10, Uma Devi-Objector.

7. From the side of the appellant deed of Will has been marked as Ext.1 and from the side of the respondent, certificate of Mukhiya dated 6.8.2005 has been marked as Annexure A certifying that Uma Devi is the daughter of Jagdish Singh, Doctors prescription of Jagdish Singh dated 12.7.2003 has been marked as Ext. B, prescription dated 5.2.2002 of Jagdish Singh has been marked as Exhibit B/1. Rent receipt issued in the name of Uma Devi has been marked as Exhibits C and C/1. Order dated 24.3.2008 passed in Mutation Case No. 3 of 2008 recording the name of Uma Devi by the Revenue Officer has been marked as Ext. D. Genealogical table issued on 19.12.2007 by the Circle Officer has been marked as Exhibit E. Certified copy of registered deed of Will dated 15.1.1974 by Veernath Singh, father-in-law of Jagdish Singh executed the Will in favour of Uma Devi and other co-sharers has been marked as Exhibit F. Show-cause filed in the proceeding under section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Sudish Singh, father-in-law of Bimla Devi has been marked as Exhibit G. Police report in the proceeding under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been marked































































































































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