Karnataka High Court
P N Balakrishna vs H B Bhavani Shankar on 8 December, 2009
Equivalent citations: AIR 2010 (NOC) 739 (KAR.), 2010 (2) AIR KANT HCR 533, 2010 A I H C 2001, (2010) 4 KANT LJ 548, (2011) 1 ICC 729, (2011) 1 HINDULR 68, 2010 (1) KCCR SN 11 (KAR)
Author: Subhash B.Adi
Bench: Subhash B.Adi
IN TIME E IAAIIGIAAI COURT OI? KARNATI-\.K.A AT IBANCEALCJRFJ
I)A'I"ED TI----{IS 'I'i---iii 08TH DAY OF' I)PZCEME3 ER 2009
J:'»IC,I*='0RI~.Z
'I'l"i}€ HONBLE MR.JUS'I'ICF} SUTSHASH B.AI')l_~~._
MISCELLANEOUS FIRST APPEAL No.75o2/--2'et53J' ._
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Sr}. I-'.N. E3z11a.krish11a. ._
Aged about 60
S/0 late Sri. Nagappa Gowda.
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R2. 3 81 4 Se1"vecI] ' V v
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of title §'y1C{1'2_1;i: $153,'; )3; I-'xvs.'.__£. --age1i1'1sst the jL'1dg1'1'1e1'11 amt! order
<:12;1£.c:d: I 'lt_8.200f3. pp. ...CE?jfi-,,O,.S.N().2160/1998 on the .§.'i1e of the
XXXE Ad(iI.=..Cii=y CEviI"LIL;d§§@.LV i321I1ge1Io1'c% [CCC¥-I. 1 Ti}. de{.:reei1'1g Lhe
suit 1'01' isssL1<:"~:.'af '}';1'ob.>._11.€~,cJI'"the Wiii.
139136211"'c:@.m~i'1'1}--i on R31" }:1ee1:'i1'1.g thifi day. 1.1%' Court
C'1(',4],i"\"'Véi'f;ECi"' t:%":r.f 11:1_§1<)w'i11g:
JUDGMENT
z'a'v51f.>';)cr:é1I is by ¥;"}1e (.{ef€1T1c.§2.1m' N031. 3. 5. 7', 8, 9 and 1.0 ' E1g£1iI'1S'§.. v1"f.'1..e }:.1<:1gr11e1'11. and dcc1'<3e. in O.S.N0.2160/ E998 dE11'.(;'.d on the file ULXXXI Addi.Ci1':y Civil Judge. i-Bamgellore. ¢%.«» E. *1' dO('3Ei% 1101 €l}(1'}()1,1I"iT. 1.0 <«3xe(?z:t.i1T1;g the fféff' wiii. It does; not 211'11<mni 1.0 {€51a1'ia1c-'1'1ia1"y dE.sp(.)sa1 of the 1..n:'()pe1'§.y by the 1.e.stat<)1'.
9. He 1'u1"the1' sL1b1m'.1'.ted 111211. (_h(-3 will 110%.. _{_1_"e(-3. from S{.iSpi('i()LIS (Ti1'£.'..ilI}1SEEU'E{TC?S. In this :*t°?_;__._{211'("1. he p<)i171'i"(r.c}"'-.o't:: the f0i1()Wi11§g <7i1'Cun1s%'.21nc:e:~3:
(iii) 'F%1ot.:g2': the %.est,:-.'11.or :1 ;.3e:1_"'1i:1'.éaiic2i_'11 .1V""€'$'i'd€',':'-'1},'viii:z G0d{i1eh0sL11', éfhe Wiii Though Will is da1»:>TVg:_'«:«;i1 . 1Vé3's:.<3 , bu;
in Marcrh 19539. K M ' V ' "E'€:st.a'£.<)1' 2 __sons_. (miy in 1'e.spe3Ct'.
of ChiI_d'reI"1 l_t.V:iT0 daughters. the p1'(;ip<':11iLf<és_s: a_1'c ciig; § i'ib1_,i tied'; a "
__'}'es{.z.L's;;»;:_»w;-15;'«m3§,._g_1--;« 5;-m.:11d ss%':a£4c of mind {-11 me iime of e;xm?L1 ('i-01.1" Oi' .Wi---i.1. ' V (i-1)..
I5'W¥'iZ _2i';'i,c?st.('; 1" 21 I"1'iend of PW}, who is E1{)})C)i1'1i.6d as 33xQc:111,0r.
€XC',C{3l.€d in the house of Jaxlaxdhan, ' .h..i*)weve1'. da}:1.a1'dI1a1.1 1'1ei1.i":e1' an 211'.';r3ssE:<)r 110:" is Ti-'xi-rii} f3X8..1I} i 1} (id 218 \'\-='1'1.I'1€'S-.'5 .
.J21nardhaI1 not known. to {he PW2.
("VT/\T!t']'E\/V JACOB AND O'J"HIi"RS MS.SALES'I'INI:'3 JACOB AND ANOTh'ER11as held that to ;)1"m'té the Will. it sL1ffic:iez1E' if one of the z1i1.es'i'.i11g Wi'E'!'1@SS€)S €:\:£:1I1'1iI1f.'d in t.er:'1'1s of Sect.i(i)11 68 of the Indian Iiviclence Act. He also 1'e1iec.1 on the judgn'1e.n§Vcgiefiiiyjalcthal Pradesh High CoLn'1'. reported in AIR 1997 I%II}VIA_CjfI3i2"{L'_*?R;'%.:I§1E~SH 43 in {he m21t.t.eI' of SI~1AI{UN'I'A.i,A ::')1%:v1 $AV1:iff%1._ 1;r?:
OTHERS zmd subn'1i'£1ecl ':.1"12.1':.. 1'::(%:'etE}f l)c%»C§fc1'L1jsc:é'.eTt.E""=.<;?"o1,h.e§'~._h.eiA1fsA'are--._ _j exciuded, that i1.se1i' not $,u'ffic:ie::1'rA {"(;-- :t11'é§- §viIVI "és shr0L1ded with -SL1S[)iCi()L1S cirttu§fii3§fé:';1ees-3. pgfinied eat that. the Wiii has not ;:§ti3.r_}1c? in normai cir<:un1st.3.nces and is 130i#1V1.€.eE_V was no reason #01' the t.esLa10'r to §?xC1«s.,1fi*ie teiée ogtirel' 1'1r:ti.i*é;:_"o.fV testator.
.1 In i.11Vté',Eig}1"i'; »(3i'e.1.he--*__a1b<)ve c0111.ent.i0ns, the points that arise for c(mside1'2it.--i<>f1.a.;tef"= ' As to z.£:.'1§1.V1,V are me requirements to prove {he will?
" . _ Wh._e1"'}1.er me 'Will is proved. in {h1'.s case'?
._ ;Wi.1_1"'~ié'se1e§'iI1e(i urxcfer S6C1.i.()I1 2 (11E1US€ [11] of the Indian-
. SL1c:<1€:ssié§11 A('§*{.. which means as Lmder:
V x "'2{fi) "Wilt" means the legal deczlaraifon Qf the 1'nt.enI,ion V "Qf Cl iesiafjor with respect to his property wflicrh he " °ciesi.res to be carried into effleci after his death. "
sufficient. 8111, when the Will is CliS§)1.1E'L'C1. l.l'1en the (]1,.1f3Sl'lO11 211'i:sc.s of}.)1'()(.){0f{.l'at' S'c'1I'I1E'. This not a (7888 W'hE':'.1'(:'. {lie iestalor was on dfiéllll beci. not 21 Case WhGE"C' 1' he 1,651.2-1l.01' was s:.1fl'e1*ing' from any disease. ad1'ni1ledl_v. in this (ralser. 2:11:31' the e,>«:é.C-.--:..T1l,io11 of the Will on 4.£.1989. the {E-?Sl21l()I' 113$ eiitered ir¢1..f:r_)_l4':.fl{+l.@;:il.'.:1ess box be¥'m'e the C0'1..1ri. in :\/larch 1.990 i.<-2.. nearly 21%?/'.¢1* (111.6l'y'r?a1',l,wo.. rnon'1lis and to prove that. in beiwri-éril fl'1e;*¢_€%x&:c;1:1I_iVt5n Ql"'W'ill Vandi'. deposing before the court, he was iicyi there is absolutely no cvidcrl1Ce.l:lL:.Vl'ed bu}; exclépi allegiiig that he was xi0i._.11alc.."£i1i§l_:*!i€::ilihy.lll"Whel.her he was ir1(t21}')al3le of uI1de1'st.a1'1dl.llw_}.ittl:l;&?;»1:l'ii$:liiC'}?£:lt'i2..(rendition Vvas not permitting l'1lI}1 l,(:)'il_}1Clf:§'1'S1E;i.lTCl a11:1'c§"--hi5 iinémal facttlliy was SO CliSll,il'b(ffCl. lie w'é%§s$'r1t)'t..&ili"1 a pf'_')"S'Vi'lviO}1 to i,1nde.rsLar1d as to Whafl he wa'1s "_d()ii1gl. .t'E1'e:fc:{ "is.ll'i'z3,ljsg;()l1.1lely no {',ViCl€}1()E' led by the <:lel'end;«,1nE"s. lO11ly 7:111-€ga,ii0'2=-1' was l.11I:1[. the testalor was in the habit:
,Qf €;¥;'€g€~TL1§l.ll1'§;.V'_U16 ddc-----.m€i1l (:anc:el1ing the same and U16 learned C1)~t_}."I'i'S-L7'A'.l."*I"'()'1"' llhe.l'a,;)pell211'1t has reliecl on Eht'. filing of suits against.
t.li<:. d{?'l't7T'1C'lE["Y:1':l jéirzcl his b1'0E..l}e1.'. I--iowever, in the will itself the fVlest;ai.01." explairiccl as 1'ega1i'd 1,0 filing 01' suits and has '..:i'e¢;5<?k'i£;'i(:a1ll3,' I1'3eriE.i0r}e(l that the SOUS are 1101. li'1,1stw'0r€lhy. Will is ' iiqi. only exe<:L1£.c.cl but it is registered. and according to the Hi1'}")pE?11£i_I1[, the exisl'€:n(_>e of Will was in 1116'. knowledge from July _,,,,_,..----«--r eons bec.:a2.,1$e of 1989 and a(in1itt.eci1y. tesiaior liad liveci for more 1.112.111 one year. Since the hez'11t'1"1 eo11(ii11'(m or S()L11'1C1 and d.isp<).ssi1'1g slate of mind of the ieSt.ai.0r is proved §:)e_v()11c§ doubt and 'there beirig no ex/-*ideI'1ee. wlrlich proves to the (r(i>11i.1*21ry'. PWMQ the tesiaior xx-'as haie and healthy at the time of <:'..?<tt(T'E:t}"1::.i.(')'1"1«>::_\§v'i_11. defericiant has not adduced any evidence {.0 i,h.e. b
21. As regard to the other ei1-ex;1e1iei'é1heeS--
bequeathed the property eq1,1V2>11_i§i'~V..g_)1' all heirs is concerned. the 1'.eei'ai.<)1'g.i_Ve.1jr one ir'ea$()v1;3i§Si.ai.i1e1g 'that. from aiilorlgsi his c,1211e.1gi'iie:rs--.. are fi1'1a1.'1ei8_}iy more benefiieci by hir1i';1_;_1d much i'i1'1anciaHy benefited a.r1_d,..i--n sQr1s.__«L>f' 1.11esem1w0 daughters. he has beqs.1ez1i'Z{_1ed._ --ihehv;11igipe19i.j.: midas regards to b€qLI€E1'1'.1'1iI1g of property i11'=fa1vi:)L11'61" ifhe ..s(.')"n Oi'an0ihe1' son, he hue stated that he had 21;: gi'ee:1t i()v(~i"211_'1VtiVafi'eci.io11 towards him and as far as sons are eo«n'(_:erne'd.:. .!1e*haLs rei.'e1'1'ed in the Wiil ihai, both the sons are not E111Sit'.xIAb1'rt;'{iy_aridas they hack duped him by taking his Si§{1'1aiUF€ on 1'.h..€' égiifi. 'd-r:'.e"d a1'1.ci. SE:L1f;? deed. These Cireu msi'.a11(res do reve.21i the iriear iI1i.'e.iii.ier1 of the 1Les112=.1,0I' that he xwzas d€fiI'1H.C of his int:eni:i(m _ 'i.{)V'd.§5-T-.}")()S(Ef of the propefly' in pa1'i.ie1.1la1' .man'ne1' and he was 3180 u ..C1eri'i:i1.ii.e that he did noi want 10 give £11'1y property 1.0 bath of his iheir e.0.:e1c§ue'I'. with the 1.esi.aI.or. These ',-
w , 3'7 .
Cl1'CLEi11Sl'.21I1CC?S do pxfove the clean' im'r;*mi0n oi i'h.e 1.est,a-1t0r._ and it. (.'.2m1'1(.)'1. be alleged I':ha.t.. not §_{1'\:'i11§___{ Sl'121I'(:' in the properties to the 0t1§1e1" e11ilclren as sL1spi('ious eireu1e11st2111ee. T(?S[&}.I11(?11I211'y document is not a 1')aI'i,i1i()1e1 deed. ll. is will 2'-incl wi'sl'i_ 01' the tesiaior.
22. I11s0fa1' as the deeisimis reliecl by i.l1el'l'e2i1'::1A_(i*d'C(5L~m_sel--.. for the appellants as 1*ega1'd to the eXé11:1ir1'2:Iti()11._éji7_U:ie"oflthef. at1'esIir1g witnesses. 1'10 doL1l3i. ~ri,:h.e"
VIRUPAKSHAPP/~i MA1.I,z5s1«1Al>1-Q'»{supi?a)--. £$'2'>§éi4ir{{d ihgi. evidence of the only 21i'.t:f:'s;i.i.ir1g _1:1.i1\vel1*{.l'1Ay'At)lf acceptance and also on the grouncl one place there are misstg.1i.esi1.qe1~aiiDelf a case where the at1.esi.in:g w'it:1ess--".l'3-':1_s'delliede _l*1i11f1selI" beirig present. at the time of exeeui.i0n*Qf"t:l1e'Wil1:,'i_dOLil§'i:e:l his evidence and observed that. relyiiig on t.'f1"e, evide1'1_ee~,ofwily z1t:i:est.i11g witness was not juseified by ['l'1'é3'j:.'{1'1'x'c'--'1l (1()1,1rt;*--ib;_,1t this is 1:101. ea CE:1S€ where ztttesiiiig witness denied ljispifesenctet at the time oi' exeCL.1Iii()r1 of the Will. he has e.at.eg(>1;i(:a.:l'ly siiucici 1,112.11. not only he was present at. the Lime oi' exe(::--:.4.§1.i()1_1~~ofj'..--1:l1e Will. but he has seen the testalor putting V.sigr1at.L1:ie'z3.1'1cl l'1E1S also stateci that he put. his Sig'{1£1lLli'f3 1.hereaft.e1* .,le.ndl"2:;1()il1ei" a.i.t,est.ing w'it1'1ess also put' his sig1'121Lm*e after the
-- tesi2ii()1' put. his sigrlature on the will. The sigrmtiires appearing