Harshal Chavan v. Surekha Chavan W/O Vinayak Rao Chavan (Deceased)

Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With Testamentary Department Date: 07th May, 2025 FOR COMPLIANCE:

75. TP/2802/2024 P. C. : Shri. Malcom Vaz a/w Shri. Navin Arora Ld. with WILL/1153/2024 Advocate for the Petitioner Shri. HARSHAL CHAVAN- Petitioner 1) This petition is filed by petitioner, being sole beneficiary under the Will executed by Surekha Chavan W/0 Vinayak Rao Chavan (herein after the same is referred to as "Testator"), for grant of a Letters of Administration with Will annexed. Said Testator said to have died at New Delhi on 01-05-2021. Petitioner, namely Harshal Vinayak Chavan, filed the copy of death certificate, identity proof of the testator, Will along with its English translation, petitioner's oath.

2) Perused petition. Heard Ld. Advocate for petitioner. Perused documents.

3) No executor has been appointed under the Will. The petitioner is the sole Legatee under the Will. Hence, petition is tenable.

4) Petitioner stated that the deceased left behind her last Will and Testament which was duly executed at New Delhi on 25.05.2020, in Hindi language. In view of the Order of the Hon'ble Court passed in the TP No. 1263/2023, the Ld. Advocate for the petitioner has filed an affidavit stating that the translation of the Will is true translation as per the contents of the Original Will. The original Will is handed in separately for being filed and kept in a safe place in the Office of the Prothonotary and Senior Master, High Court, Bombay.

5) Ld. Advocate for petitioner submits that Testatrix is survived by legal heirs, whose details

are given in the petition, as per the provisions of Hindu Succession Act, 1956. The petitioner affirmed that there are no other legal heirs of the deceased, except mentioned in the petition.

6) Citation to non-consenting legal heir of the deceased, namely Meenakshi. She has filed the Caveat, having No. CTSL 29410/2024. Same has been rejected, vide Rule 986 of the BHC Rules. Hence, it is uncontested petition.

7) Citation was issued, which has been duly affixed on the conspicuous part of the Hon'ble High Court and notice board of the Collector's Office at Mumbai and 14 days have been expired vide Rule 397(1) and (4) of the Bombay High Court (O.S.) Rules, 1980(for short "BHC Rules") and an affidavit to that effect has been filed. Notice to collector has been issued vide Rule 396 of BHC Rules. Till today, no one appeared to resist the claim of the petitioner or nothing is brought to the notice regarding pending litigation pertaining to the same properties. Hence, the petition is treated as uncontested one.

8) The petitioner has filed the affidavit of Arun Bhoot & Gaurav Tyagi one of attesting Witnesses to the Will, in form No.102 of Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980. They deposed that deceased signed the Testament in their presence as well as presence of another witness, after going through its contents. Hence, enough evidence is on record to accept the execution of the Will and petitioner is succeeded to prove the execution of Will.

9) Properties mentioned in the schedule-I of the petition are referred in the Will.

10) Petitioner has executed the administration Bond in the prescribed format. Hence, following order:

ORDER

1) Petition is granted.

2) Office to issue Letters of Administration with Will annexed to the petitioner, upon satisfaction that the administration Bond is properly executed, as per the Rules, throughout the State of Maharashtra. 3) Before issuance of Letters of Administration with Will, the office to verify that there is no cross Petition is pending or caveat is filed. Office to act accordingly.

07th May, 2025 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department