2010 Supreme(P&H) 176
PUNJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT
Sham Sunder, J.
Daya Ram
Versus
Kanwar Pal
Regular Second Appeal No. 3890 of 2004,
Decided On : JANUARY 8, 2010
The main legal point established in the judgment is the requirement to prove the execution of a Will and dispel suspicious circumstances to establish its legality and validity.
Headnote:
Will - Property Dispute - Civil Procedure Code - Section 100, Indian Succession Act - Section 63 - Summary: The court discussed the execution of a Will dated 30.11.93, the genuineness of the Will, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding it. The court found that the Will was legal and valid, dispelling the suspicious circumstances and upholding the lower courts' decisions.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a property dispute regarding the execution of a Will dated 30.11.93 by Surji Devi in favor of Kanwar Pal. The plaintiffs, successors of Surji Devi, contested the validity of the Will.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the Will dated 30.11.93, executed by Surji Devi in favor of Kanwar Pal, was legal and valid, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the Will were dispelled.
Issues: The issues included the validity of the Will, the genuineness of its execution, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding it.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the execution of the Will was proved, and the suspicious circumstances were dispelled by the recitals of the Will and the evidence presented.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the appeal, upholding the lower courts' decisions and finding the Will to be legal and valid.
Sham Sunder, J.
1. This appeal, is directed, against the judgment and decree, dated 22.10.02, rendered by the Court of Civil Judge (Junior Division), Kamal, vide which, it missed the suits of the plaintiffs, and, the judgment and decree, dated 14.09.04, rendered by the Additional District Judge (Fast Track Court), Karnal, vide which, it dismissed the appeals.
2. The facts, in brief, are that, Surji Devi (since deceased), was the exclusive owner of the property, in dispute. It was stated that Surji Devi, became widow, in her early age. She died issueless. It was further stated that she suffered a consent decree dated 15.01.86, in favour of the plaintiffs and Kanwar Pal, defendant Nos. 1, in respect of her entire property, but subsequently, she filed a Civil Suit, for setting aside of the same, in which, the parties arrived at a compromise, as a result whereof, the same was dismissed as withdrawn. It was further stated that Surji Devi (since deceased), again filed a Civil Suit, challenging the consent decree dated 15.01.86 on the ground of fraud and misrepresentation, which was decreed, vide judgment dated 15.06.95, by the Court of the then Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Karnal. It was further stated that, an appeal, preferred against the judgment and decree dated 15.06.95, was dismissed, by the Court of the Additional District Judge, Karnal, vide judgment dated 28.07.97. It was further stated that after the death of Surji Devi, Kanwar Pal, defendant No. 1, started claiming that the deceased, had executed a registered Will dated 30.11.93, bequeathing her entire property, in his favour. It was further stated that no such Will, was ever executed by the deceased, in favour of defendant No. 1, and, as such, the one set up by him was illegal, null and void. It was further stated that, Surji Devi (since deceased), never resided with defendant No. 1, during heer life time, and, on the other hand, she was looked after by the plaintiff. It was further stated that, at the time of the alleged execution ofthe Will, Surji Devi (now deceased), was not the owner of the property, in dispute. It was further stated that, the Will, in question, was obtained in an illegal and fraudulent manner. It was further stated that defendant No. 1, was many a time asked to refrain from his nefarious designs, an treat the Will dated 30.11.93, as illegal, null and void, but to no avail. Ultimately, suit for declaration and permanent injunction, was filed.
3. Kanwar Pal, defendant No. 1, put in appearance, and filed written statement, wherein, he took up various objections, and contested the suit. It was pleaded that the suit was not maintainable. Itwasfurtherpleadedthatthesuitwas bad for mis-joinder and non joinder of necessary parties. It was further pleaded that, no cause of action, accrued to the plaintiffs, to file the suit. It was admitted that Surji Devi (since deceased), was the owner of the property, in dispute. It was stated that Surji Devi, was an illiterate rustic villager. It was further stated that she became widow, at the age of 12 years. It was further stated that she died issueless. It was denied that Surji Devi (since deceased), was ever looked after by the plaintiffs. It was further denied, that the plaintiff, were the owners of the property, in dispute. It was further denied that the plaintiffs, being the successors of the deceased, were entitled to get the suit property. It was further stated that, defendant No. 1, was shown as one of the plaintiffs, in the Civil Suit, in which, the consent decree, was allegedly suffered, by Surji Devi (since deceased), when he was minor, just with a view to gain something from her. It was further stated that Surji Devi (since deceased), executed a legal and valid registered Will dated 30.11.93, in favour of defendant No. 1. It was further stated that, after the death of his mother, defendant No. 1, was brought up by Surji Devi (since deceased), and since then, he had been living with her.