Vedanti Santosh Godbole v. Shripad Parshuram Mehendale (Deceased)
102.TP/1597/2025 Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With Testamentary Department Date: 30th June, 2025 FOR COMPLIANCE:
102.TP/1597/2025 P.C. Mr. Bhavesh Magam, Ld. Advocate for the Petitioner. with WILL/632/2025 1) This petition is filed by petitioner, being sole beneficiary under the Will executed by Shripad Parshuram Mehendale (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 Mumbai on 31.01.2024. Petitioner, namely Vedanti Santosh Godbole, 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 his last Will and Testament which was duly executed at Karjat on 09.09.2023 & registered on 11.09.2023, 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.
5) Ld. Advocate for petitioner submits that testator is survived by legal heir, 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 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
102.TP/1597/2025 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.
7) The petitioner has filed the affidavit of Poonam Tambe one of attesting Witnesses to the Will, in form No.102 of Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980. She deposed that deceased signed the Testament and affixed his thumb impression in her 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. According to her all additions and alteration in a Will were existed at the time of execution before signing the Will. Hence, there is sufficient compliance of the Rule 383 of the Rules. 8) Properties mentioned in the schedule-I of the petition are referred in the Will.
9) Petitioner is exempted from furnishing the administration Bond. 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.
30th June, 2025 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department