Chandrakant Vishnu Gaddam v. Indubai Raghunath Shirke (Deceased)

Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With Testamentary Department Date: 28th April, 2025 FOR COMPLIANCE:

130. TP/4816/2024 [Original] (ECHCBM020939420 24) with WILL/1911/2024 P. C. : Shri. Mahmood Ali i/b S Yegurwar Ld. Advocate for the Petitioner

1) This petition is filed by petitioner, being sole beneficiary under the Will executed by Indubai Raghunath Shirke (herein after the same is referred to as "Testatrix"), for grant of a Letters of Administration with Will annexed. Said Testatrix said to have died at Post Mhasave, Taluka Javali, District Satara on 13-01-2024. Petitioner, namely CHANDRAKANT VISHNU GADDAM, filed the copy of death certificate, identity proof of the testator, Will, petitioner's oath.

2) Perused petition. Heard Ld. Advocate for petitioner. Perused documents. Ld. advocate for the petitioner As oath is undated, Ld. advocate for the petitioner undertakes to file the oath with dates, within a week. Undertaking accepted.

3) No executor has been appointed under the Will. The petitioner is the one of the beneficiary 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 Mumbai on 05.01.2021, in English language. 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. Legal

heirs of the testatrix have consented to the petition and thereby waived the service of Citation.

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 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 Ranjit Bapuso Shirke, one of attesting Witnesses to the Will, in form No.102 of Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rules, 1980. He deposed that deceased signed the Testament in his 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 him testament was read over to the testatrix in her vernacular. Hence, there is sufficient compliance of the Rule 419 of the Rules.

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

9) 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 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.

4) Petitioner to file the oath, in prescribed format.

28th April, 2025 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department