Megha Bhatia v. Rishi Narinder Bhatia (Deceased)

1 51.TP/738/2025 Before :Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With Testamentary Department Date 22nd April 2025 FOR COMPLIANCE:

51. TP/738/2025 (AMH20230040503 C202500001) P.

C. :

Ms. Rima Oke Ld. Advocate for the Petitioner

1) This is a petition for grant of Letters of Administration, under the Provisions of Indian Succession Act, 1925 (for short "IS Act") for the properties left by the deceased, namely RISHI NARINDER BHATIA (For short "Said deceased"). The petitioner, namely MEGHA RISHI BHATIA, has filed documents.

2) I have heard Ld. Advocate. I perused the documents, such as true copy of the death certificate of the deceased, identity proof of the deceased, oath in the prescribed format, affidavit of service citation.

3) Said deceased died as a married on 10-09-2024 at Kakkanad PO, Ernakulam, Kerala leaving behind him legal heirs, shown in the paragraph No. 4 of the petition. Petitioner states that there are no other legal heirs to the deceased, except heirs shown in the petition. Deceased left properties shown in the schedule-I of the petition.

4) Citation was issued, which has been duly affixed on the Notice Board 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.

5) Legal heir of the deceased namely Alka Bhatia (Mother) has consented by way of Affidavit to grant prayer of petitioner to grant a Letters of Administration, without

2 51.TP/738/2025 reserving any right. Legal heir has accepted the facts, regarding their relationship, inter-se.

6) One of the minor legal heir has consented through her natural guardian who is also petitioner has consented by way of Affidavit to grant prayer of petitioner to grant a Letters of Administration, without reserving any right. Legal heir has accepted the facts, regarding their relationship, inter-se. The petitioner being birth patent of the minor has filed affidavit. In view of the order passed in the Testamentary Petition No. 1701 of 2017, there is no requisition to justify the share of minor legal heir, namely Aaryaman, as the petitioner is the birth parent of said minor.

7) Petitioner has filed the administration Bond in prescribed form No. 118 with surety.

8) Ld. Advocate for the petitioner submitted that in view of provisions of the Hindu Succession Act 1956, the petitioner, being Widow of the deceased, is entitled to seek a Letters of Administration. Hence, facts stated by petitioner and heirs of the deceased, on oath, remained unchallenged and required to be accepted. Accordingly, petition deserves to be allowed, as prayed for. Hence, following order:

ORDER

1) Petition is allowed and the Letters of Administration be granted to the petitioner for properties, left by the deceased and shown in the schedule, in prescribed format as per the provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

2) The petitioner to file an account as under taken in a Petitioner's Oath within stipulated period.

3) Before issuance of the grant, the office to verify that there is no cross Petition is pending or caveat resisting the petition is filed.

22nd April 2025 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department