Ramesh Lakhanpal v. Mrs. Neetu Sharma
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% Daulat Ram Vs. Sodha '$' 2005(1) SCC 40
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In the said reply the
defendant propounded some alleged will alleged to be executed by said Sh Jatinder Sharma but the defendant intentionally did not got mention in the reply the date of alleged will, name of the witnesses on the alleged will and if the alleged will is registered or unregistered which shows malafides on the part of the defendant. Moreover the copy of the alleged will is intentionally not sent by the defendant along with the reply dated 15.06.2022. Sh Jatinder Sharma died intestate on 30.04.2020 and he never executed any will during his lifetime.
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Since it is required to be attested, as provided in Section 68 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, it cannot be used as evidence until one of the attesting witnesses at least has been called for the purpose of proving its execution, if there be an attesting witness alive, and subject to the process of the Court and capable of giving evidence. In addition, it has to satisfy the requirements of Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
In order to assess as to whether the Will has been validly executed and is a genuine document, the propounder has to show that the Will was signed by the testator and that he had put his signatures to the testament of his own free will; that he was at the relevant time in a sound disposing state of mind and understood the nature and effect of the dispositions and that the testator had signed it in the presence of two witnesses who attested it in his presence and in the presence of each other. Once these elements are established, the onus which rests on the propounder is discharged. But where there are suspicious circumstances, the onus is on the propounder to remove the suspicion by leading appropriate evidence.
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" Respondent No. 1 has successfully discharged the onus of proving the due execution of the Will. The two attesting witnesses, PW:3 and PW:5, have clearly stated in their depositions that Prati was in sound disposing mind at the time of the execution of the Will and had put his thumb mark on the said Will after the same was read over to him in their presence and that they had signed the Will in the presence of the testator and in the presence of each other. They have deposed that Respondent No. 1 was the daughter of Prati and Prati of his own volition had executed the Will in favour of Respondent No.
1. PW:5 is a former Member of Legislative Assembly. PW:3 is a close relation of deceased Prati. There is nothing on record to indicate that they have deposed falsely. Rather their testimonies inspire confidence. PW:2 is the scriber of the Will and neighbour of deceased Prati. He has also deposed that Respondent No. 1 is the daughter of Prati and that he had scribed the Will at the instance of Prati. He has also deposed that Prati had executed the will of his own while in sound disposing state of mind. (
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which they have failed to discharge. No evidence was led by them on either of these points.
14.
Be that as it may, the second Will executed by Prati has been proved to be genuine and validly executed by him wherein he has bequeathed his entire property to his daughter, Respondent No. 1 ( '
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