Ayush Anil Khaitan v. Sushila Sitaram Bajaj
BEFORE : MR. DILIP S. GURAV, FIRST ASSISTANT MASTER Date: 15th July, 2024 CALLED FOR COMPLIANCE :
31 TP/2165/2024 ) Mr. Uttam Rane, Advocate for petitioner P.C.:
1. Perused Petition. Heard Ld. Advocate for petitioner. This petition is filed by petitioner, being one of the beneficiaries named under the Will executed by Sushila Sitaram Bajaj (herein after the same is referred to as "Testatrix"), for grant of Letters of Administration with Will annexed. Testatrix said to have died on 11.02.2023 at Mumbai. Petitioner filed the copy of death certificate (which is annexed to petition as Exhibit-A), identity proof of the testatrix (which is annexed to petition as Exhibit- B), Will, petitioner's oath, affidavits of legal heirs of the testatrix.
2. The petitioner has filed petition within prescribed limit as per Rule 382 of the Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rule, 1980 (for short "Rules").
3. The testatrix has not appointed executor to execute the Will. The petitioner is being one of the beneficiaries named under the Will. Hence, petition is tenable.
4. Petitioner stated that the testatrix left behind her last Will and Testament which was duly executed at Thane on 22.12.2022, in English language. Ld. Advocate for the petitioner submits that 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. Petitioner states that testatrix was survived by legal heirs shown in the paragraph No. 9 of the petition, as per the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. Testatrix died leaving behind husband namely Sitaram Bajaj and three married daughters namely Nisha Khaitan, Monica Mehta and Neelam Singhal. Consent Affidavits of Sitaram Bajaj, Nisha Khaitan, Monica Mehta and Neelam Singhal all dated 23.02.2024 are on record. They have given their consents in the form of Affidavits, which are filed on the record .......2
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- 2 - TP/2165/2024 by the petitioner and consented for the issuance of Letters of Administration with Will annexed in favour of the petitioner without justifying any surety in respect of their shares in the estate of the testatrix. They have waived the service of Citation. The petitioner affirmed that there are no other legal heirs of the testatrix other than mentioned in para 9 of the petition.
6. Affidavit of Service of General Citation is filed, stating that citation has been affixed on the Notice Board of the Hon'ble High Court, Bombay and notice board of the Collector's office on 05.04.2024. Notice to collector has been sent.
7. The petitioner has filed the affidavit of Nisha Anil Khaitan date 23.02.2024, one of Attesting Witnesses to the Will, in the Form No.102 of the Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980. Attesting witness deposed that he was present and testatrix signed on the Testament papers in presence of his and another witness. According to him, all additions and alteration, in a Will, were existed at the time of execution and before signing the Will. Hence, there is sufficient compliance of the Rule 383 of the Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980. Will is duly registered before Joint Sub-Registrar, Thane under serial No. TNN/16903/2022. Attesting witness further deposed that at the time of execution of the Will, testatrix was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding. Hence, enough evidence is on record to accept the execution of the Will and petitioner is succeeded to prove the execution of Will.
8. Properties mentioned in the schedule of the petition are referred in the Will. Ld. Advocate for petitioner submits that as mentioned in paras 5 and 8 of the petition which reads as under :
"5. That the petitioner has truly set forth in Schedule No. I, hereto annexed and marked Exhibit "D", all the property and credits which the said deceased died possessed of or was entitled to at the time of her death, which have, or are likely to come to the beneficiaries .....3
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- 3 - TP/2165/2024 hands under the last will and testament of the deceased. In so far as the petitioner has been able to ascertain, or is aware, there are no properties and credits other than what are specified in the Schedule No. I attached hereto, left by the said deceased".
8. That the assets of the said deceased as mentioned in Schedule No. I, including all rents, interest and dividends which have accrued since the date of death of the said deceased and increased value of the assets since the said date of the said deceased are of the value of Rs.65,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty Five Lakhs Only). That the petitioner states that the movable properties mentioned in the last Will and testament of the deceased i.e. Bank Balances, Fixed Deposits, Cash etc. are already distributed / transferred as per the Will of the deceased and hence same are not mentioned in the Schedule - I herein".
The Ld. Advocate for the petitioner submitted that properties available to the testatrix at the time of her death are mentioned in the Schedule I of the petition.
9. Petitioner has executed the administration Bond dated 10.07.2024, in the prescribed format. Hence, following order:
ORDER
1) Petition is granted.
2) Office to issue Letters of Administration with Will annexed as per the provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 to the petitioner and upon satisfaction that the administration Bond is properly executed, as per the Rules.
3) Before issuance of above said 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.
15.07.2024 FIRST ASSISTANT MASTER