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2025 Supreme(Online)(KER) 4280
HIGH COURT OF KERALA
A. BADHARUDEEN, J
K.S.DINACHANDRAN – Appellant
Versus
SHYLA JOSEPH – Respondent
RFA 915/2012
SRI.S.VINOD BHAT, SRI.LEGITH T.KOTTAKKAL, SRI.K.R.VINOD, SRI.P.N.SASIDHARAN, SMT.C.A.ANUPAMA, SRI.N.M.MOHAMMED AYUB, SRI.P.V.SHAMSUDDIN, S.SREEKUMAR (SR.)
The burden of proving the execution of a Will lies with the propounder, who must dispel any suspicions regarding its validity, as established under the Indian Succession Act and the Evidence Act.
Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Section 96, Order XLI Rule 1 and 2 - Indian Succession Act - Section 63(c) - Evidence Act - Section 68 - Preliminary decree of partition challenged - Plaintiff sought partition of properties inherited from deceased father - Defendants claimed title through a disputed Will - Trial court found Will not duly executed - Appeals dismissed confirming trial court's findings. (Paras 8, 25)
(B) Will - Essentials for proving execution - The court must ensure the Will is executed by the testator and attested by two witnesses, with evidence of their presence during signing - Burden of proof lies on the propounder to dispel any suspicions regarding the Will's execution. (Paras 10, 11)
Facts of the case:
The plaintiff sought partition of properties originally owned by her deceased father, asserting that he died intestate, while defendants claimed rights under a Will that was not proven validly.
Findings of Court:
The trial court's finding that the defendants failed to prove the Will's execution was upheld, confirming the properties were partible among the heirs.
Issues: The main issues were whether the trial court erred in its finding regarding the Will's execution and whether the appeals warranted interference.
Ratio Decidendi: The court reaffirmed that the burden of proving a Will lies with the propounder, and the evidence presented by the defendants did not meet the statutory requirements for proving the Will's execution.
Result: Appeals dismissed.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. plaintiff sought partition (Para 5 , 6) |
| 2. trial court's findings (Para 8 , 9 , 10) |
| 3. burden of proof on propounder (Para 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25) |
| 4. appeals dismissed (Para 26) |
COMMON JUDGMENT
R.F.A. No.915 of 2012 has been filed by the 1st defendant in O.S. No.633/2011 on the files of the II Additional Sub Court, Ernakulam under Section 96 read with Order XLI Rule 1 and 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 , challenging the preliminary decree of partition passed in the above case dated 14.06.2012. The respondents herein are the plaintiff and other defendants.
2. R.F.A. No.82 of 2013 is also filed challenging the preliminary decree of partition in O.S. No.633/2011, at the instance of defendants 2, 3 and 5 to 8, arraying the plaintiff and other defendants as the respondents.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the appellants and the learned counsel appearing for the respondents, in detail. Perused the verdict under challenge and the records of the trial court.
4. Parties in these appeals shall be referred as “plaintiff” and “defendants” with reference to their status before the trial court.
5. Short facts:- The plaintiff instituted a suit seeking partition of the plaint schedule properties and to allot 1/9 share to her, contending that the plaint schedule properties were originally owned by one Sreedharan, who is the father of the plaintiff and defendants and he died intestate.
6. The defendants resisted the suit mainly relying on Will Deed No.26/1988 of SRO, Ernakulam dated 26.03.1988 asserting that, as per the Will, late Sreedharan transferred his right to the defendants in exclusion of the plaintiff and they perfected title in the respective shares in terms of the Will. Therefore, the plaint schedule properties are not partible.
7. The trial court ventured the matter, after raising necessary issues. Exts.A1 and A2 marked on the side of the plaintiff. DWs 1 and 2 examined and Exts.B1 to B12 marked on the side of the defendants. Ext.B2 is the Will.
8. On anxious consideration of the evidence tendered, the learned Sub Judge found that the defendants failed to prove the due execution and attestation of Ext.B2 Will and therefore, the plaint schedule properties are partible. Accordingly, preliminary decree of partition was passed by allotting 1/9 share to the plaintiff and defendants
1 to 8.
9. While assailing the judgment of the trial court, the main challenge raised by the defendants is regarding the finding of the trial court that defendants miserably failed to prove the execution and attestation of Ext.B2. It is zealously argued that, there are two attesting witnesses in Ext.B2, out of which, as per the proof afÏdavit filed by DW1, he asserted that Sri.Xavier was no more. Accordingly, the remaining attesting witness Sri.Sadanandan got examined. After reading the evidence given by DW2, regarding the manner in which he had signed in the Will, it is pointed out by the learned counsel for the defendants that, DW2 given evidence that he signed in the Will in the presence of the testator and he also witnessed the testator signing the same. Further, DW2 also given evidence that, DW2 and others signed in the Will on the same day. Relying on his evidence, it is pointed out that, when the evidence of DW2 is taken together, the essentials necessary to prove a Will, within the ambit of Section 63 (c) of the Indian Succession Act read with Section 68 of the Evidence Act are complied and therefore, the trial court failed in holding that Ext.B2 was not properly proved.
10. The learned counsel for the defendants placed latest decision of the Apex Court reported in[2023 INSC 847] Meena Pradhan and Others v. Kamla Pradhan and Another , where the Apex Court, after referring the earlier decisions, in paragraph Nos.10 and 11, summarized the essentials to prove a Will as under:
10. Relying on H. Venkatachala Iyengar v. B.N. Thimmajamma , 1959 Supp (1) SCR 426 (3- Judge Bench), Bhagwan Kaur v
