1. This is a petition under Section 276 read with Sections 273 and 300, Indian Succession Act, (hereinafter called the Act) for the grant of probate of the will dated 12.01.1974, Exhibit P-A, executed by Shridhar Sharma Guleri, (hereinafter called the testator), in favour of Shrimati Rajeshwari Rani Pathak, the petitioner (hereinafter called the executrix). The testator died on February 22, 1974, at Simla when he was working as Joint Agricultural Commissioner at Simla under the Himachal Pradesh Government. The present petition was filed on July 16, 1974.

2. The testator was a Lecturer in Government College at Solan. He passed the I. P. S. Examination in the year 1963 and was subsequently selected in the Indian Administrative Service (I. A S.). After getting his training, he was appointed as Sub-Divisional Magistrate, at Kangra, in the year 1966-67. In July, 1967, he was appointed as Deputy Commissioner, (Rehabilitation) Talwara. After working as Deputy Development Commissioner at Simla up to April, 1970, he was transferred as Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur and he served as such up to April, 1971. He went on deputation as Under-Secretary (Finance), Government of India, from w