Laxman Shivram Pawar And ANR v. Pandurang Shankar Nigwekar (Deceased)

Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With Testamentary Department Date: 18th August, 2025 FOR COMPLIANCE:

95. TP/1443/2025 (AMH20230047514C 202400005) with WILL/583/2025 P. C. : Shri. Vedastu Rane d. Advocate for the Petitioner 1) This petition is filed by petitioner, being beneficiaries under the Will executed by Pandurang Shankar Nigwekar (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 Kumbarwadi, Malvan Sindhudurga on 26.05.2020. Petitioners, namely (1) LAXMAN SHIVRAM PAWAR & (2) NIKHIL LAXMAN PAWAR, filed the copy of death certificates, 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) The petitioner has explained the delay vide Rule 382 of the Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rule, 1980(for short "Rules"). 4) No executor has been appointed under the Will. The petitioners are the Beneficiaries under the Will. Hence, petition is tenable.

5) Petitioner stated that the deceased left behind his last Will and Testament which was duly executed at Mumbai on 22.01.2019, in Marathi 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 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.

6) Ld. Advocate for petitioner submits that

testator is survived by legal heirs, whose details are given in the petition's paragraph No. 08, 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. Sole surviving legal heir of the testator (Vandana Pandurang Nigwekar) has consented to the petition and thereby waived the service of Citation.

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 Pranali Prakash Pawar one of attesting Witnesses to the Will, in form No.102 of Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980. She deposed that deceased affixed his/her/their thumb impression in her presence. Hence, enough evidence is on record to accept the execution of the Will and petitioner is succeeded to prove the execution of Will. According to her all additions and alteration in a Will were existed at the time of execution and contents of the Will were read over to the testator before signing the Will. Hence, there is sufficient compliance of the Rule 383 and 419 of the Rules.

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, as per the Rules, having effect 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.

18th August, 2025 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department