Ganesh Janakiraman v. Meera Srinivasan

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 08-06-2026

CORAM

THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE OP No. 89 of 2025 Ganesh Janakiraman S/o.Major VK.Janakiraman, No.62, Sivan Koil street, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 600 024.

Also at 905, Mahagun Morpheus, E4, Sector - 50, Noida, Uttar Pradesh - 201301.

..Petitioner(s) Vs Meera Srinivasan D/o.V.K.Srinivasan, No.40, Vathiyaar Thottam, 3rd Street, Rangarajapuram, Chennai - 600 024.

..Respondent(s) To grant Letters of Administration to the property and credits of the deceased Late Mrs.J.Saraswathi to have effect limited to the State of Tamil Nadu, in favour of the petitioner as the legal heir of the deceased Gross Amount Rs.1,68,00,000/- and Net Amount Rs.1,67,80,000/- Suc.duty of Rs.25,000/- paid on 09.06.2025 by C/F D.No.20168/2025.

For Petitioner(s):

M/s.N.S.Amogh Simha Priyanka.R Ashwin Kumar G.Raakkesh 1/6

For Respondent(s):

No appearance.

ORDER

This Original Petition has been filed under Sections 218 and 278 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, read with Order XXV Rule 5 of the Original Side Rules, seeking grant of Letters of Administration without Will in respect of the estate of late Mrs. J. Saraswathi.

2.

The petitioner is the son of late Mrs. J. Saraswathi. According to the petitioner, Mrs. J. Saraswathi died intestate on 08.05.2007 at No.62, Sivan Koil Street, Kodambakkam, Chennai. Her husband Major V.K. Janakiraman had predeceased her. The petitioner has further stated that his younger brother J. Sivaraman died on 28.04.2023.

3.

The respondent Meera Srinivasan is wife of the said J. Sivaraman. Notice was ordered to the respondent. The records show that service was completed and paper publication was also effected. Since there was no representation on behalf of the respondent, she was set ex parte by order dated 11.12.2025 and the matter was referred to the learned Master for recording evidence. 2/6

4.

Before the learned Master, the petitioner examined himself as P.W.1. He marked Ex.P1 to Ex.P10. The exhibits include the death certificate of V.K. Janakiraman, death certificate of Mrs. J. Saraswathi, death certificate of J. Sivaraman, burial ground report relating to J. Sivaraman, legal heirship certificate, family settlement deed dated 10.02.1955, marriage certificate of J. Sivaraman and Meera Srinivasan, paper publications, affidavit of assets and certificate under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. 5.

The petitioner has also filed an affidavit of assets. The estate is stated to comprise immovable property at Kodambakkam, Chennai, with gross value of Rs.1,68,00,000/- and net value of Rs.1,67,80,000/- after deduction of Rs.20,000/-. 6.

The documents on record prima facie establish the death of Mrs. J. Saraswathi, the existence of the estate within the jurisdiction of this Court, and the petitioner's relationship as son of the deceased. The evidence required for grant of Letters of Administration has substantially been adduced. 7.

Thus, this Court is inclined to grant Letters of Administration, without a Will, in respect of the estate of late Mrs. J. Saraswathi in favour of the petitioner. It 3/6

is made clear that the grant of Letters of Administration in favour of the petitioner shall not amount to a declaration of title over the properties of the deceased in favour of the petitioner in their entirety.

8.

Accordingly O.P.No.89 of 2025 is allowed. The Registry shall issue Letters of Administration accordingly, to have effect throughout the State of Tamil Nadu; The petitioner is directed to execute a security bond for a sum of Rs.25,000/ (Rupees Twenty five Thousand only) in the name of the Assistant Registrar (Original Side) of this Court. The petitioner shall file a full and true inventory of the estate within six months from the date of receipt of the Letters of Administration and shall render a true and proper account within one year thereafter.

08-06-2026 Index: Yes / No Speaking Order / Non-speaking Order AY 4/6

List of witnesses examined on the side of the petitioner: PW1 - Mr.Ganesh Janakiraman.

List of documents marked on the side of plaintiff(s): Ex.P.1 is the computer generated death certificate of Mr.Janaki Raman T.R. Ex.P.2 is the photocopy of the death certificate of Mrs.Saraswathi (compared with the original) Ex.P.3 is the computer generated death certificate of Mr.J.Sivaraman. Ex.P.4 is the photocopy of burial ground report of death certificate of Mr.J.Sivaraman (compared with the original) Ex.P.5 is the computer generated legal heirship certificate of Mrs.J.Saraswathi. Ex.P.6 is the photocopy of the family settlement deed dated 10.02.1955 executed by R.M.Rajabadar Mudaliar. (compared with the original) Ex.P.7 is the photocopy of the marriage certificate of Mr.J.Sivaraman (compared with the original) Ex.P.8 (series 2 nos.)

are the copies of the paper publication effected in one issue of Tamil Daily "Makkal Kural" dated 22.11.2025 and in one issue of English Daily "Trinity Mirror" dated 29.09.2025 Ex.P.9 is the affidavit of assets showing the net value of the estate sum of Rs.1,68,00,000/- Ex.P.10 is the affidavit under section 63(C) (4)of BSA . List of witnesses examined on the side of Respondent: Nil List of documents marked on the side of Respondent: Nil 08.06.

DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J.

AY OP No. 89 of 2025 08-06-2026 6/6