Ramesh Tanu Sonavane v. Vasant Tanu Sonawane Alias Vasant Tane Sonavane

2 77.TP/3826/2025 Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With the Testamentary Department Date: 26th March 2026 FOR COMPLIANCE:

77. TP/3826/2025 (AMH20230019762C202500061) with WILL/1457/2025 ) ) ) Shri. R T Kharwar Ld. Advocate for the Petitioner P.C.:

1) Petitioner, namely Ramesh Tanu Sonavane, filed this petition for grant of Letters of Administration with Will Annexed, being the sole legatee under the Will executed by Vasant Tanu Sonawane, alias Vasant Tane Sonavane (herein after the same is referred to as "Testator"), for the grant of a Letters of Administration with Will annexed. The Said Testator said to have died at Mumbai on 01.09.2021.

2) Perused petition. Heard Ld. Advocate for the petitioner. Perused documents. Petitioner, filed the copy of death certificate, an identity proof of the testator, Will and petitioner's oath.

3) The petitioner has explained the delay vide Rule 382 of the Bombay High Court (Original Side) Rule, 1980(for short "Rules"). 4) No executor has been appointed under the Will. The petitioner is the sole legatee under the Will. Hence, the petition is tenable. 5) Petitioner stated that the deceased left behind his last Will and Testament, which was duly executed at Mumbai on 27.07.2015, in Marathi language. In view of the Order of the Hon'ble Court passed in the TP No. 1263/2023, the Ld. The advocate for the petitioner has filed an affidavit stating that the translation of the Will is a true translation as per the contents of the Original Will. The Will is handed over 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 the petitioner submits that the testator is survived by his widow(Sangeeta Vasant Sonawane) who died on 22.02.2023. according to the petitioner, the deceased died as issueless. His parents were predeceased to the deceased. The petitioner is the brother of the deceased, whose details are given in the petition's paragraph No. 08, as per the provisions of Sec. 9 as well as with Sec. 15(1)(b) of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, as widow of the deceased was last surviving class-I heir of the deceased. The petitioner affirmed that there are no other legal heirs of the deceased, except as mentioned in the petition.

2 77.TP/3826/2025 7) Citation to all Concern was issued and same 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 Bhalchandra Devaji Jadhav, 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 and the testator was in sound state of mind at the time of execution of the Will. Hence, enough evidence is on record to accept the execution of the Will and petitioner is succeeded to prove the execution of Will. 9) Properties mentioned in the schedule-I of the petition are referred in the Will.

10) Petitioner is exempted from furnishing an administration Bond in the prescribed format, as per the order of the Hon'ble Court dated 4861/2024 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.

26th March 2026 Officer on Special Duty, with Testamentary Department