Delhi District Court
Ms. Maithili Sinha vs The State (Nct Of Delhi) on 8 December, 2021
IN THE COURT OF PREETI PAREWA, ACJ/ARC/CCJ
NEW DELHI DISTRICT, PATIALA HOUSE COURTS, NEW DELHI
SUCCESSION CASE NO. 72/2021
Ms. Maithili Sinha,
D/o Late Sh. Kedar Prasad Sinha & Late Smt. Uma Sinha,
R/o D1/1379, SectorD, Pocket1,
Vasant Kunj, New Delhi ... Petitioner
VERSUS
The State (NCT of Delhi) ... Respondent
PETITION FOR GRANT OF SUCCESSION CERTIFICATE
UNDER SECTION 372 OF THE INDIAN SUCCESSION ACT, 1925
Date of institution of the petition : 16.08.2021
Date on which judgment was reserved : Not reserved
Date of pronouncement of judgment : 08.12.2021.
Final Judgment : Allowed.
JUDGMENT
1. Petitioner has applied for succession certificate under Section 372 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 in respect of debts / securities of her deceased mother Late Smt. Uma Sinha. The details of the same as follows :
A) BANK ACCOUNT :
Saving Bank Account No. 51050293860 with State Bank of India, LBS Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi B) SHARES SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.1 of 10 S. NO. NAME OF SECURITY ISIN NO. NUMBER OF VALUE (IN INR) SHARES 1 5PAISA CAPITAL LIMITED INE618L01018 2 870.80 2 ABB INDIA INE117A01022 5 8778 LIMITED 3 ABB POWER PRODUCTS INE07Y701011 1 1898.10 AND SYSTEMS INDIA LIMITED 4 ACC LIMITED EQUITY INE012A01025 10 20231 SHARES 5 ADANI ENTERPRISES INE423A01024 20 28291 LIMITED 6 ADANI GREEN ENERGY INE364U01010 15 15093 7 ADANI PORTS AND INE742F01042 178 126860.60 SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE LIMITED 8 ADANI POWER LIMITED INE814H01011 135 15099.75 9 ADANI TOTAL GAS INE399L01023 20 18362 LIMITED 10 ADANI TRANSMISSION INE931S01010 20 19140 LIMITED 11 ADINATH TEXTILES INE207C01019 100 614 LIMITED 12 APOLLO TYRES LIMITED INE438A01022 50 11502.50 13 ASIAN PAINTS LIMITED INE021A01026 45 135171 14 AUROBINDO PHARMA INE406A01037 25 24527.50 LIMITED 15 AVENUE SUPERMARTS INE192R01011 50 168062.50 LIMITED 16 AXIS BANK LIMITED INE238A01034 195 147936.75 17 BANK OF INDIA INE084A01016 5 382.50 18 BHARAT DYNAMICS INE171Z01018 122 45609.70 LIMITED 19 BHARAT PETROLEUM INE029A01011 72 32983.20 CORPORATION LTD 20 CHAMBAL FERTILISERS INE085A01013 60 17673 & CHEMICALS LIMITED 21 CIPLA LTD INE059A01026 62 60065.60 22 CITY UNION BANK INE491A01021 60 9930 LIMITED SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.2 of 10 23 COAL INDIA LIMITED INE522F01014 85 12541.75 24 COMPUCOM SOFTWARE INE453B01029 1500 21585 LIMITED 25 DEWAN HOUSING INE202B01012 125 2087.50 FINANCE CORPORATION LIMITED 26 DR. REDDYS INE089A01023 26 144008.80 LABORATORIES LTD 27 ECL FINANCE LTD INE804I074Y7 50 53910 28 EDELWEISS FINANCIAL INE532F01054 100 7390 SERVICES LIMITED 29 FORTIS HEALTHCARE INE061F01013 60 14622 LIMITED 30 GAIL (INDIA) LTD INE129A01019 1218 183369.90 [FORMERLY GAS AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD] 31 GENERAL INSURANCE INE481Y01014 256 52006.40 CORPORATION OF INDIA 32 GIC HOUSING FINANCE INE289B01019 578 104386.80 LIMITED 33 GMR INFRASTRUCTURE INE776C01039 100 3170 LIMITED 34 GODREJ AGROVET INE850D01014 32 20964.80 35 GOL OFFSHORE LIMITED INE892H01017 10 101 36 THE GREAT EASTERN INE017A01032 40 15182 SHIPPING COMPANY LIMITED 37 GUJARAT TELEPHONE INE261B01018 104 1040 CABLES LIMITED 38 GVK POWER & INE251H01024 150 382.50 INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED 39 HCL TECHNOLOGIES INE860A01027 720 699912 LIMITED 40 HDFC ASSET INE127D01025 29 83679.50 MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED 41 HDFC BANK LIMITED INE040A01034 500 767175 42 HOUSING INE040A01034 45 112198.50 DEVELOPMENT FINANCE CORPORATION LIMITED 43 HEMISPHERE INE0AJG01018 29 4350 PROPERTIES INDIA LIMITED SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.3 of 10 44 HERO MOTOCORP INE158A01026 4 11684.60 LIMITED 45 HEXAWARE INE093A01033 140 65905 TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED 46 HINDALCO INDUSTRIES INE038A01020 23 8860.75 LIMITED 47 HINDUSTAN INE066F01012 60 66057 AERONAUTICS LIMITED 48 HINDUSTAN INE549A01026 1030 15233.70 CONSTRUCTION CO.
LTD 49 HINDUSTAN MOTORS INE253A01025 260 2355.60 LIMITED 50 HINDUSTAN UNILEVER INE030A01027 1675 4142442.50 LIMITED 51 HINDUSTAN INE094A01015 112 34109.60 PETROLEUM CORPORATION LIMITED 52 CICI BANK LIMITED # INE090A01021 539 350646.45 NEW EQ SH WITH FV RS.2/ AFTER SUB DIVISION 53 ICICI LOMBARD INE765G01017 89 139592.05 GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED 54 ICICI PRUDENTIAL AMC INF109K01TX1 1181.088 349547.72 LTD#ICICI PRU MF 55 IFCI LTD8.50% (AC) RTD INE039A09NX8 4 43244 UNSEC CUM NCB RED LNG TERM INFRA BOND 56 IFCI LTD INE039A01010 300 4329 57 IIFL FINANCE LIMITED INE530B01024 50 12622.50 58 IIFL SECURITIES LIMITED INE489L01022 50 3825 59 IIFL WEALTH INE466L01020 7 8460.55 MANAGEMENT LIMITED 60 INDIABULLS HOUSING INE148I01020 15 3934.50 FINANCE LIMITED 61 INDIAN OIL INE242A01010 296 32086.40 CORPORATION LIMITED 62 INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK INE565A01014 90 2358 LIMITED 63 INDUSIND BANK LIMITED INE095A01012 175 180250 64 INFOSYS LIMITED INE009A01021 90 140625 65 IRB INFRASTRUCTURE INE821I01014 25 3928.75 DEVELOPERS LIMITED SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.4 of 10 66 ITC LIMITED INE154A01025 235 47599.25 67 IVRCL LIMITED INE875A01025 168 65.52 68 JAYPEE INFRATECH INE099J01015 225 551.25 LIMITED 69 JK TYRE & INDUSTRIES INE573A01042 100 14210 LIMITED 70 JYOTHY LABS LIMITED INE668F01031 190 33525.50 71 L&T FINANCE HOLDINGS INE498L01015 100 9290 LIMITED 72 LANCO INFRATECH INE785C01048 725 304.50 LIMITED 73 LARSEN & TOUBRO INE018A01030 273 410892.30 LIMITED 74 MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA INE101A01026 52 40630.20 75 MARUTI SUZUKI INDIA INE585B01010 40 300474 LIMITED 76 METALYST FORGINGS INE425A01011 2 14.18 LIMITED 77 MUTHOOT FINANCE LTD INE414G07DW7 100 106051 78 MUTHOOT FINANCE LTD INE414G07EK0 100 101900 79 MANAPPURAM FINANCE INE522D07AW0 100 102200 LTD 80 MINDTREE LIMITED INE018I01017 140 355663 81 MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA INE774D07SS7 100 103325 FIN SERV LTD 82 NBCC (INDIA) LIMITED INE095N01031 100 5360 83 NEPC AGRO FOODS INE587A01018 33 330 LIMITED 84 NHPC LIMITED INE848E01016 175 4576.25 85 NIIT LIMITED INE161A01038 25 7223.75 86 NLC INDIA LIMITED INE589A01014 120 7260 87 NTPC LIMITED INE733E01010 46 5409.60 88 NTPC LIMITED INE733E07JP6 39 538.20 89 OIL & NATURAL GAS INE213A01029 906 110079 CORPORATION LIMITED 90 PETRONET LNG LIMITED INE347G01014 160 35888 SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.5 of 10 91 PTC INDIA FINANCIAL INE560K01014 500 9850 SERVICES LIMITED 92 PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK INE160A01022 74 3096.90 93 RATTANINDIA POWER INE399K01017 200 1810 LIMITED 94 REC LIMITED INE020B01018 180 26010 95 RELIANCE INE002A01018 144 306136.80 INDUSTRIES LIMITED 96 RELIANCE POWER INE614G01033 12 162.12 LIMITED 97 STEEL AUTHORITY OF INE114A01011 35 4308.50 INDIA 98 STATE BANK OF INDIA INE062A01020 1255 539210.75 99 SBI LIFE INSURANCE INE123W01016 105 107446.50 COMPANY LIMITED 100 SBI FUNDS INF200K01099 8 34079.36 MANAGEMENT PVT LTD 101 SHRIRAM AMC LTD INF680P01018 2500 53850 102 SIEMENS LIMITED INE003A01024 3 6082.80 103 SPICEJET LIMITED INE285B01017 170 13481 104 SHRIRAM TRANSPORT INE721A07NV9 100 108110 FINANCE COMPANY LTD 105 SHRIRAM TRANSPORT INE721A07PB6 100 106300 FINANCE COMPANY LTD 106 SHRIRAM TRANSPORT INE721A07OD5 100 106401 FIN CO LTD 107 SHRIRAM TRANSPORT INE721A07OO2 100 104500 FIN CO LTD 108 SUN INE044A01036 60 40395 PHARMACEUTICALS LTD 109 TATA COMMUNICATIONS INE151A01013 29 39437.10 LIMITED 110 TATA CONSULTANCY INE467B01029 180 587223 SERVICES LIMITED 111 TATA MOTORS LTD INE155A01022 241 76384.95 112 THE TATA POWER INE245A01021 58 7134 COMPANY LIMITED 113 TATA STEEL LIMITED INE081A01012 75 87506.25 114 TATA STEEL LIMITED IN9081A01010 5 1166.50 115 TATA CAP FIN SER LTD INE306N07LI3 100 108900 SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.6 of 10 116 TECH MAHINDRA INE669C01036 796 835839.80 LIMITED 117 TRIVENI TURBINE INE152M01016 25 3128.75 LIMITED 118 TVS MOTOR COMPANY INE494B01023 25 15205 LTD 119 ULTRATECH CEMENT INE481G01011 20 138706 LIMITED 120 UNION BANK OF INDIA INE692A01016 199 7502.30 121 UNIWORTH INE760D01015 50 500 INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 122 UNIWORTH LIMITED INE207A01013 250 157.50 123 UNIWORTH TEXTILES INE486C01019 25 134.25 LIMITED 124 UPL LIMITED INE628A01036 37 29735.05 125 UTI AMC LTD INF189A01053 500 82152.50 126 VARUN GLOBAL LIMITED INE885S01018 268 0 127 VARUN RESOURCES INE884S01011 1072 0 LIMITEDINE528G01035 128 VEDANTA LIMITED INE205A01025 78 21118.50 129 VODAFONE IDEA LTD INE669E01016 90 792.90 130 WOCKHARDT LTD INE049B01025 15 8316 131 YES BANK LIMITED INE528G01035 138 1846.44 132 YES BANK LIMITED INE528G01035 46 615.48 133 ZEE ENTERTAINMENT INE256A04022 226 449.74 ENTER LTD 134 ZEE ENTERTAINMENT INE256A01028 108 23689.80 ENTERPRISES LIMITED 135 ZEE LEARN LIMITED INE565L01011 50 830
2. It is the case of the petitioner that she is the only child / daughter of the petitioner as well as ClassI Legal Heir of the deceased. That, the mother and father of the petitioner expired on 18.12.2019 and 14.02.2020 respectively. It is prayed that succession certificate be issued in favour of the petitioner in respect of aforesaid debts/securities of the deceased.
SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.7 of 10
3. The succession petition was filed in this Court on 13.08.2021. Subsequently, besides service of notice of petition upon respondent, this Court also directed for publication of notice of succession petition in the daily newspapers and consequently, the publication was made in newspapers "Veer Arjun" and "The Statesman" both dated 27.08.2021 for inviting objections, if any, from general public. Despite publication, no objection to the grant of succession certificate in favour of petitioner was received from general public.
4. In the petitioner's evidence, petitioner examined herself as PW1, tendered her affidavit Ex.PW1/A and relied upon the following documents :
I) Copy of death certificate of her late mother - Ex.PW1/1 (OSR);
ii) Copy of death certicate of her late father - Ex.PW1/2 (OSR);
iii) True copy of Surviving Member Certificates of her parents - Ex.PW1/3 (Colly);
iv) True copy of her aadhar card, her PAN card, aadhar card of her mother, PAN card of her mother, aadhar card of her father and PAN card of her father - Ex.PW1/4 (Colly) (OSR);
v) Internet generated copy of statement of demat account held by her late mother - Mark A;
vi) Copy of passbook of saving bank account of her late mother with SBI, LBS Hospital Branch, Vasant Kunj - Ex.PW1/6 (OSR); &
vii) Original CA certified valuation report of shares - Ex.PW1/7;
5. Thereafter, PE was closed vide today's separate proceedings.
6. I have heard the final arguments advanced by learned Counsel for the petitioner and carefully perused the record.
SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.8 of 10
7. Section 373 subsection (3) of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 provides: 'If the Judge cannot decide the right to the certificate without determining questions of law or fact which seem to be too intricate and difficult for determination in a summary proceedings, he may nevertheless grant a certificate to the petitioner if he appears to be the person having prima facie the best title thereto.'
8. Aforesaid provision, therefore, says that succession certificate has to be given by the Court on the basis of "primafacie best title". Petitioner has to show that he has best title over the debts & Securities in question. Onus of proving the same, therefore, is not on the same platform as that of criminal law or civil law, it is less than that. So much, so even if there is a dispute with regard to the right of petitioner claiming succession certificate, then also it is the broad / primafacie title which has to be seen. This is precisely for the reason the as the rights of the parties are not to be determined by the Court issuing the succession certificate.
9. Further, perusal of Section 375 of Indian Succession Act shows that the imposition of a condition of security / surety / indemnity bond is in order to indemnify person (s) or safeguard the interest of such persons who may be entitled to the whole or any part of the debt and security.
10. Respondents / general public / legal representatives of deceased in question did not raise any objection pertaining to present application, despite publication in newspapers. As per the Surviving Member Certificate Ex.PW1/3 (Colly), the petitioner is the sole survivor of deceased.
SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.9 of 10
11. In view of above discussions, I find that there is no objection to the grant of succession certificate in favour of petitioner, who is sole surviving ClassI heir of the deceased, for receiving the aforesaid debts / securities held in the name of deceased Late Smt. Uma Sinha (mother of the petitioner), as mentioned in Para 1 of this Judgment. Consequently, the present petition is allowed and succession certificate be issued to petitioner for receiving the aforesaid debts/securities of the deceased, on filing of requisite Court Fees of Rs.4,28,655/ only in terms of Article 12, Schedule I of the Court Fee Act, 1870 as applicable to Delhi. Since the petitioner is sole ClassI legal heir of the deceased, the condition of furnishing indemnity bond and surety bond is waived in the present case.
12. File be consigned to Record Room after due compliance.
Announced in the open (PREETI PAREWA) Court today i.e. 08th day ACJ/CCJ/ARC, NDD, PHC of December, 2021 NEW DELHI : 08.12.2021 SC No. 72/2021 Maithili Sinha Vs. State. Page no.10 of 10