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1962 Supreme(Cal) 181

HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
P. C. Mallick
BANKU B. DAS - Appellant
Versus
KASHI N. DAS - Respondent
Suit 13  Of  1961
Decided On : AUGUST 06, 1962

Advocates Appeared:
A.P.Choudhury, B.N.DUTT, S.DEB

An instrument appointing a trustee and sebait of a debutter trust is a testamentary instrument of which probate can be granted, provided that it is executed and attested according to law as a testamentary instrument.

Headnote:

PROBATE - Testamentary Instrument - Appointment of Sebait - Whether a Testamentary Disposition - Probate and Administration Act (V of 1881), S. 3.

Fact of the Case:

The testator, Manmatha Nath Das, executed a Will appointing his son, Banku Behari Das, as the trustee and sebait of the debutter estate of Sm. Tripura Sundari Dasi deceased, for the deities Sri Sri Iswar Radha Ballau Jew at Brindaban. The Will was contested by Kasliinath and Hem Chandra, who filed caveats and affidavits in support thereof, arguing that the instrument was not a testamentary instrument and no probate could be granted.

Finding of the Court:

The Court held that the instrument was a testamentary instrument of which probate could be granted. It found that the testator had made no testamentary disposition of his own property and that the only disposition made in the Will was the appointment of a trustee and sebait of the debutter trust. The Court further held that the power of appointing a sebait was not a property that could be disposed of by Will.

Issues: 1. Whether the instrument was a testamentary instrument. 2. Whether the testator had made a testamentary disposition of his own property. 3. Whether the power of appointing a sebait was a property that could be disposed of by Will.

Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Court held that the instrument was a testamentary instrument because it was executed and attested according to law as a testamentary instrument and it disposed of the testator's property, namely, the sebaiti of the debutter trust. 2. The Court held that the testator had not made a testamentary disposition of his own property because the only disposition made in the Will was the appointment of a trustee and sebait of the debutter trust. 3. The Court held that the power of appointing a sebait was not a property that could be disposed of by Will because it was a mere office and not a property.

Final Decision: The Court pronounced in favor of the Will and ordered for grant of probate after discharging the caveat.

P. C. MALLICK, J.

( 1 ) THIS is a proceeding in which Banku Behari Das seeks to propound the Will of his father Manmatha Nath Das. The Will is dated August 20, 1960. The Will is being contested by Kasliinath and Hem Chandra. They have filed caveats and affidavits in support thereof. In the affidavits the only point of substance raised is that the instrument sought to be propounded is not a testamentary instrument and as such no probate can be granted to such an instrument. Mr. B. N. Dutta Ray learned counsel appearing for the caveators did not raise any other dispute. It is not disputed that the instrument was executed and attested according to law, as if it is a testamentary instrument.

( 2 ) THE provisions of the Will are simple. The instrument has been described as a testamentary instrument by Manmatha Nath Das and has been executed and attested by two attesting witnesses as such. The only son of the executant has been appointed executor. The disposition in the Will is in the following terms :"i am at present of the trustees to the debutter estate of Sm. Tripura Sundari Dasi deceased, for the deities Sri Sri Iswar Radha Ballau Jew at Brindaban, District Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, and I hereby appoint my said eldest son Banku Behari Das as the trustee and sebait in my place and stead, of the said debutter estate and after my death he will act as such trustee and sebait along with the other trustees and shall hold the debutter trust estate and shall do all acts and things in carrying out the objects of the trust as such trustee. "it is contended that it is nothing more than a deed of appointment of a sebait and trustee of the deity Sri Sri Radha Ballav Jew at Brindaban and does not purport to dispose of any property of Manmatha Nath Das. Manmatha, therefore, must be held to have died intestate and the instrument propounded is merely a deed of appointment and no probate can be granted to such an instrument.

( 3 ) BEFORE I consider the interesting point of law canvassed in this proceeding, I should note that in the petition it is stated that the total assets likely to come into the hands of the executor would not exceed Rs. 2075/ -. In the affidavit of assets the sum or Rs. 2059-62 np. is stated to be the "provident Fund" money and salary due to the deceased. Another asset is the claim of Rs. 110/- due and payable to the estate of Manmatha by the estate of one Sanat Chandra Das. The third asset is the sum of Rs. 5/- in cash.

( 4 ) A preliminary point has been raised by Mr. S. C. Deb, learned counsel appearing for the propounder, challenging the locus standi of the caveators. It is contended that the caveators are no heirs of the testator en intestacy and they have no interest in the estate. They were only co-trustees or shebaits of the debutter trust along with Manmatha. The interest of a co-trustee or shebait is not such interest as would entitle him to intervene in a testamentary proceeding of a will executed by another sebaiti. It is, howevor, to be noted that what is purported to be disposed of is the sebaili and trusteeship and it may be that in such a case a co-trustee or co-sebait may have some interest to be present when the Will is sought to be proved. I am not, however, called upon to censor the last question, because, in my judgment, Mr. Deb is not entitled to challenge the locus standi of tha caveators at this stage. Chapter xxxv Rule 24 of our Rules provides that an affidavit in support of the caveat shall be filed within a certain period and "such affidavit shall state the right and interest of the caveator, and the grounds of the objections to the application". Rule 28 provides that "upon the affidavit in support of the caveat being filed, the proceedings shall, by order of the Judge upon application by summons be numbered as a suit. .- " Rule 30 provides that"the Court may on the application of the petitioner by summons to the caveator before making an ordar unoer Rule 28, direct the trial of an issue as to cav






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