Petition under sections 7 and 10 of the Guardian and Wards Act for appointing the petitioner as guardian of his minor daughter-in-law Chandra Bhai, aged 16 years. Minor Chandra Bhai was married to the petitioner’s son R. Mangilal Mehta. The said Mangilal Mehta died on 24th May, 1964, as a result of an explosion in a godown in Govindappa Naicken Street on 19th May, 1964. He had taken a multiple risk policy with the Life Insurance Corporation of India on 28th March, 1964, on his life. The petitioner’s case is that he is entitled to be appointed as guardian of the minor under the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act of 1956.

This application is opposed by Srimathi Sayar Bai, the mother of minor Chandra Bhai and also by Udairaj Gulecha, a cousin of minor Chandra Bhai. Neither side adduced oral evidence in this case. In fact the petitioner was not even present in Court and I was therefore unable to put questions to him in respect of the several allegations made against him in para. 10 of the counter of Udairaj Gulecha.

The learned Advocate for the petitioner relied on the statement on Principles of Hindu Law, Mulla, 12th Edition, page 619, para. 443, that after the husband’s dea