Swapna Das and 2 Ors v. Chumki Das @ Paul and Anr

PageoNo.#o1/4 GAHC010064792022 ooooooo ooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooTHEoGAUHATIoHIGHoCOURTo (HIGHoCOURToOFoASSAM,oNAGALAND,oMIZORAMoANDoARUNACHALoPRADESH)o CaseoNo.o:oTest.App./8/2022o SWAPNAoDASoANDo2oORS.o W/OoLATEoSITANGSHUoSEKHARoDAS,o RESIDENToOFoLAKHICHARANoROAD,oWARDoNO.o5,oKARIMGANJoTOWN,o PO.oPSoANDoDISToKARIMGANJ,oASSAM 2:oSRIoSIDDHARTHAoSANKARoDAS oS/OoLATEoSITANGSHUoSEKHARoDAS o RESIDENToOFoLAKHICHARANoROAD oWARDoNO.o5 oKARIMGANJoTOWN oPO.oPSoANDoDISToKARIMGANJ oASSAM 3:oSRIoSUDIPTAoSANKARoDAS oS/OoLATEoSITANGSHUoSEKHARoDAS o RESIDENToOFoLAKHICHARANoROAD oWARDoNO.o5 oKARIMGANJoTOWN oPO.oPSoANDoDISToKARIMGANJ oASSAo VERSUSo CHUMKIoDASo@oPAULoANDoANR.o D/OoLATEoPRABHAToCHANDRAoDAS,o RESIDENToOFoTARANIoROAD,oRANGIRKHARI,oSILCHAR,oPOoANDoPSo SILCHAR,oDISToCACHAR,oASSAM 2:SMTIoPINKIoDAS Page No.# 2/4 D/O LATE PRABHAT CHANDRA DAS

RESIDENT OF TARANI ROAD RANGIRKHARI SILCHAR PO AND PS SILCHAR DIST CACHAR ASSA Advocate for the Petitioner : MR. S P CHOUDHURY Advocate for the Respondent : MR. T U LASKAR (r-2)

:: BEFORE :: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PARTHIVJYOTI SAIKIA O R D E R

11.06.2024

Heard Mr. S.P. Choudhury, the learned counsel appearing for the appellants as well as Mr. P.J. Bayan, the learned counsel representing the respondents.

¶2This is an appeal under Section 299 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 challenging the judgment and order dated 18.11.2021 passed by the learned District Judge, Karimganj in Misc. (Letters of Administration) No.51/2017 arising out of Misc. Probate No.88/2011.

¶3Late Prabhat Chandra Das had executed the registered Will dated 05.08.1993. He died on 14.04.1997. Late Prabhat Chandra Das bequeathed his properties in favour of his sons Sitangshu Sekhar Das and late Saroj Kumar Das who died before the death of Prabhat Chandra Das.

¶4Apart from Sitangshu Sekhar Das and late Saroj Kumar Das, late Prabhat Chandra Das had left behind his two daughters, namely-Chumki Das @ Chumki Paul and Smti. Pinki Das. Page No.# 3/4

¶5The deceased son Saroj Kumar Das had left behind two daughters, namely-Nibedita Das and Nabanita Das.

¶6After the death of Prabhat Chandra Das, the son Sitangshu Sekhar Das filed an application before the District Judge, Karimganj seeking a probate.

¶7Notices were issued to the legal heirs of late Prabhat Chandra Das.

¶8In the meantime, Sitangshu Sekhar Das had expired. At this stage, his three children, namely-Smti. Swapna Das, Siddhartha Sankar Das and Sudipta Sankar Das had entered appearance and filed an application under Section 232 of the Indian Succession Act, praying for grant of a letter of Administration on the basis of the Will of late Prabhat Chandra Das.

¶9On the other hand, Smti. Chumki Das and Pinki Das had filed an objection against the prayer made by late Sitangshu Sekhar Das.

¶10For these reasons, the probate case was converted into Miscellaneous (Letters of Administration) Case.

¶11The learned trial court refused to grant the probate on the ground that the attesting witnesses of the Will were not examined as required under Section 68 of the Indian Evidence Act.

¶12During pendency of this appeal, both Smti. Chumki Das and Pinki Das have filed two numbers of affidavits stating that they have no objection if the probate, as prayed for, by late Sitangshu Sekhar Das, is granted.

¶13The learned counsel Mr. Bayan representing Smti. Chumki Das and Pinki Das, has submitted that they have no objection if the probate is granted.

¶14Under the circumstances, the appeal is allowed. The impugned judgment and order dated 18.11.2021 passed by the learned District Judge, Karimganj in Misc. (Letters of Administration) Case No.51/2017 arising out of Misc. Probate No.88/2011, is set aside.

¶15Probate shall be granted accordingly. The court of the District Judge, Karimganj Page No.# 4/4 shall take appropriate steps for issuing probate. Send back the LCR.

JUDGE Comparing Assistant