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2023 Supreme(Raj) 1505

RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT BENCH AT JAIPUR
Narendra Singh Dhaddha, J.
Smt. Bala & Ors. - Appellants
Versus
Smt. Anita Agarwal & Ors. - Respondents
S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 606 of 2023 Connected with S.B. Civil Miscellaneous Appeal No. 643 of 2023
Decided On : 04-05-2023

Important Points

The court established that a valid Will must be substantiated by clear evidence, particularly when allegations of forgery arise.

Subject

Civil Law - Succession

Act Referred

SUCCESSION ACT : S.276, S.372

Headnote

Injunction - Succession - Indian Succession Act - Sections 372, 276 - The court interpreted the provisions regarding succession certificates and probate, emphasizing the need for clear evidence of a valid Will, which influenced the decision to set aside the trial court's order allowing joint business operations.

Fact of the Case:

The appellants sought a succession certificate under Section 372 of the Indian Succession Act, while the respondents sought probate under Section 276. Both parties filed temporary injunction applications regarding the operation of a gas service business.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the trial court erred in granting joint business operations to the respondents despite evidence suggesting the Will was forged, thus favoring the appellants' claim.

Issues: Whether the trial court correctly assessed the prima-facie case for granting joint business operations to both parties amidst conflicting claims over a Will.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the trial court's reliance on a prima-facie case was misplaced given the evidence of forgery regarding the Will, necessitating a reevaluation of the parties' rights.

Result: The appeals are allowed, and the trial court's order is set aside.

Advocates appeared:
Mr. Saransh Saini, Advocate with Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, Advocate & Ms. Ashika Maheshwari, Advocate, for the Appellant; Mr. Jai Prakash Gupta, Advocate with Mr. Ravi Singh, Advocate, for the Respondent.

JUDGMENT

1. The aforesaid appeals have arisen from the order dated 21.02.2023 passed by the District Judge, Jhunjhunu (for short 'the trial Court') in Civil Misc. Temporary Injunction Application No.35/2022 titled as 'Smt. Anita Agarwal & Anr. Vs. Smt. Bala & Ors.' and in Civil Misc. Temporary Injunction Application No.05/2023 titled as 'Smt. Bala & Ors. Vs. Smt. Anita Agarwal & Anr.'.

2. Learned counsel for the appellants submits that the appellants had filed an application under Section 372 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 for granting succession certificate and respondents had filed an application under Section 276 of Indian Succession Act for granting probate in which temporary injunction applications were filed by both the parties. The trial Court vide order dated 21.02.2023 had decided both the temporary injunction applications. Learned counsel for the appellants further submits that the learned trial Court wrongly came to the conclusion that both the parties had prima-facie case. Learned counsel for the appellants also submits that Dilip Kumar Chokhani (husband/father of the appellants) was doing business in the name of M/s Chokhani Gas Service, Nawalgarh in which Dilip Kumar Chokhani was a proprietor and his brothers Girdhari Lal and Jyoti Swaroop were helping him in doing business. Learned counsel for the appellants also submits that the respondents wrongly stated that the appellant No.1-Smt. Bala and Dilip Kumar Chokhani had no cordial relations and litigation was pending between them. Learned counsel for the appellants also submits that the trial Court in its order while considering the prima-facie case admitted the fact that the appellants were doing business after the death of Dilip Kumar Chokhani. Learned counsel for the appellants further submits that Dilip Kumar Chokhani had not executed any Will in favour of respondent No.1-Smt. Anita Agarwal and respondent No.2-Girdhari Lal Agarwal because said Will was challenged by the appellants before the trial Court and the trial Court had sent the said Will for FSL examination in which signature of Dilip Kumar Chokhani was found forged one, but the trial Court wrongly relied upon the private FSL report which was produced by respondents. Learned counsel for the appellants further submits that the trial Court while deciding the temporary injunction application, granted relief which was to be given at the time of final adjudication. Learned counsel for the appellants also submits that the respondents did not have prima-facie case. So, order of the trial Court to the effect that the respondents would participate in the business as a partner and a joint account be opened in this regard may be set-aside.

3. Learned counsel for the appellants has placed reliance upon the following judgments'-(1) Rupali Mehta Vs. Smt. Tina Narinder Sain Mehta reported in 2006 (6) Mh.L.J.; (2) Suresh Sharma Vs. Dhanwanti Sharma in D. B. Special Appeal Writ No.548/2022 in S. B. Civil Writ Petition No.6089/2019 decided on 07.05.2022;(3) Ramchandra Ganpatrao Hande alias Handege Vs. Vithalrao Hande & Ors. in Appeal No.797 of 2010 decided on 29.03.2011.

4. Learned counsel for the respondents opposed the arguments advanced by learned counsel for the appellants and submitted that the trial Court rightly came to the conclusion that Will is forged one or not will be decided in the main application. Learned counsel for the respondents also submitted that the trial Court had not granted any relief which was to be granted at the time of final adjudication. Learned counsel for the respondents also submits that the trial Court rightly observed that both the parties had prima-facie case because appellants are claiming gas agency through inheritance and respondents are claiming gas agency on account of Will executed in favour of them. So, genuineness of the Will is required be proved in the main application. So, in the interest of Justice, it was necessary to allow participation of both the parties in the busines

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