Sunita Shashidhar Shetty v. Mahabal Duja Shetty Alias Mahabala So Shri Duja Shetty Alias Mahabala D Shetty

Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With Testamentary Department Date: 19th September, 2025 FOR COMPLIANCE:

105. TP/3264/2025 (AMH20230023712C 202500016) with WILL/1211/2025 P. C. : Shri. Umeshchandra Tiwari Ld. Advocate for the Petitioner 1) This petition is filed by petitioner, being one of the beneficiaries under the Will executed by Mahabal Duja Shetty alias Mahabala S/o Shri Duja Shetty alias Mahabala D. Shetty (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 18/08/2015. Petitioner, namely Sunita Shashidhar Shetty, 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.

3) The petitioner has explained the delay vide Rule 382 of the Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rule, 1980(for short "Rules"). 4) The executor, namely Sudhhakar Mahabal Shetty is reported to have been died on 03.06.2017 and his death certificate has been filed on the record. The petitioner is the one of the legatee 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 24.01.2012, in English language. 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. Legal heirs of the testator have 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 Shashidhar Mudu Shetty, 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. 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 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.

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

10) Other legatees, namely Sudhakar's widow Shakunthala Sudhakar Shetty and Sudhakar's son-Samarth Sudhakar Shetty, Sujata Balachandra Shetty and Suma Subhash Shetty, have given consents to grant Letters of Administration to petitioner.

11) 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.

19th September, 2025 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department