Delhi District Court
Mandeep Kaur vs The State (National Capital Territory ... on 6 March, 2026
IN THE COURT OF SH. PRITAM SINGH,
DISTRICT JUDGE (DJ-04) SOUTH EAST, DISTRICT
COURTS, SAKET, NEW DELHI
In the matter of
PC 35/2025
Mandeep Kaur
W/o Harkirat Singh
R/o CB-230A, Ring Road,
Naraina Kair, New Delhi-110028.
.... Petitioner
VERSUS
1. The State (NCT Delhi)
Through SDM Lajpat Nagar, Delhi
2. The Manager, Punjab & Sindh Bank
New Delhi, Krishna Market,
Lajpat Nagar I,
New Delhi-110024
3. Raminder Singh
S/o S. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral
R/o F-166, Lajpat Nagar-1,
New Delhi-110024.
4. Inderpal Singh Gujral
S/o S. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral
R/o F-166, Lajpat Nagar-1,
New Delhi-110024.
....Respondents
Date of Institution : 12.07.2025
Date reserved for judgment : 26.02.2026
Date of judgment : 06.03.2025
DECISION : Allowed
JUDGMENT
PC No:35/2025 Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 1 of 7 (Petitioner's Case)
1. This is a petition U/s 278 of The Indian Succession Act for grant of letter of administration to the petitioners in respect of the movable assets of late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur W/o late Sh. Gurdev Singh and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral S/o late Iswar Singh who as per the petitioner died intestate on 23.01.2022 and 17.05.2021 respectively.
2. As per the petitioner, late Shri Gurdev Singh Gujral @ Gurdev Singh and late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur were residing in property bearing House no.F-166, Lajpat Nagar-1, New Delhi-110024 at the time of their death.
3. It is averred that late Shri Gurdev Singh Gujral @ Gurdev Singh and late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur, had a bank account and a locker in the Punjab and Sindh Bank, branch Krishna Market Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi-24, in joint locker no.122 (locker no.0774R0200122) in locker account no.110 in respect of which the present petition for Letter of Administration is filed.
4. It is averred that there is no liability to be set off against the assets of her deceased parents which needs to be discharged through any of their properties and assets.
5. It is averred that the there are no other legal heirs of the late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral except the petitioner and respondent no.3 and 4 herein who are their children and class-I legal heirs.
6. Hence it is prayed that Letter of Administration may be granted in favour of the Petitioner qua the movable assets of PC No:35/2025 Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 2 of 7 their parents late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral to administer the joint locker no.122 (locker no.0774R0200122) in locker account no.110.
7. Publication was directed to be carried out for awareness of the general public and the same was published in English Newspaper 'The Pioneer' dt 29.07.2025 and in Hindi Newspaper 'Veer Arjun' dated 31.07.2025. However, none came forward either from the general public or otherwise to support or oppose the petition.
8. During the course of proceedings, on 16.09.2025 a notice was issued to the respondent no.2/Punjab & Sindh Bank to file valuation report of joint locker in the name of Inderjeet Kaur and Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral. In compliance of order dated 16.09.2025 passed by this court, Sh. Ashish Soni, the empaneled valuer of Punjab & Sindh Bank, valued the articles/items/assets/valuables on 07.10.2025. The said locker was opened in the presence of the petitioner, respondent no.3 and 4 and two witnesses Sh. Madan Singh S/o Sh. Kartar Singh and Sh. Paramjeet Singh S/o Sh. Kishan Singh. The Branch Incharge executed the order of this court and filed his report dated 01.11.2025 before the court on 04.11.2025 alongwith an inventory containing the details of the ornaments lying in the said bank locker. The valuation report by an approved valuer namely Krishna Jewellers and approved Gold appraisers dated 07.10.2025 qua the said jewellery was PC No:35/2025 Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 3 of 7 also filed on record, as per which the value of the jewellery at the relevant time was Rs.78,23,200/-.
9. Report of Tehsildar, Defence Colony, dated 31.10.2025 qua surviving legal heirs of Late Sh. Gurdev Singh was also filed, according to which the petitioner Mandeep Kaur, respondent no.3 Raminder Singh and respondent no.4 Inderpal Singh Gujral are the L.Rs/children of Late sh. Gurdev Singh. PETITIONER'S EVIDENCE
10. Petitioner in support of her case examined herself as PW-1. She tendered her evidence by way of affidavit EX.PW1/A and relied upon the following documents:
i) . Copy of Aadhar card of petitioner Ex.PW1/1 (OSR).
ii). Copy of aadhar card of late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur as Ex.PW1/2.
iii). Copy of aadhar card of late Sh. Gurdev Singh Kaur as Ex.PW1/3.
iv). Death certificate of late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur as Ex.PW1/4.
v). Death certificate of late Sh. Gurdev Singh as Ex.PW1/5.
vi). Copy of record of joint locker bearing no.110 and locker no.122 with Punjab and Sindh Bank, Branch office Krishna Market Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi as Ex.PW1/6.
SUBMISSIONS OF PETITIONER
11. It is argued by Ld. Counsel for petitioner that the petitioner and respondent no. 3 and 4 are the only surviving legal heirs of the deceased Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral, as is also mentioned in the report of Tehsildar dt 31.10.2025 and in view of the No Objection of respondent no.3 and 4 and PC No:35/2025 Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 4 of 7 also no objection from any corner of the society, Petitioner is entitled for Letter for Administration as prayed for.
12. I have heard the arguments advanced by Ld. Counsel for the petitioner and carefully gone through the record.
13. The deceased Smt. Inderjeet Kaur expired on 23.01.2022 and deceassed Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral expired on 17.05.2021 and copy of their death certificates are exhibited as Ex. PW1/4 and Ex.PW1/5 respectively.
FINDINGS OF THE COURT:
14. The submissions are assessed in the light of material on record vis-a-vis statutory provisions of law, particularly Section 15 of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 as well as provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
15. The PW1 has deposed on the lines of petition, she has proved the death certificate of their deceased parents as Ex.PW1/4 and Ex.PW1/5.
16. As per report of Tehsildar, Defence Colony, dated 31.10.2025, the petitioner and respondent no.3 and 4 are the children and the only legal heirs of the deceased Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral.
17. As per the valuation report furnished by Branch Incharge, Punjab and Sindh Bank, Krishna Market, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi the joint locker no.122 (locker no.0774R0200122) in locker account no.110 is in the name of Late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral had jewellery articles which are detailed in the said report.
PC No:35/2025 Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 5 of 7
18. The testimony of PW1 remained unrebutted in absence of any cross-examination by the respondents / State and there is no reason to disbelieve the same.
19. The unrebutted testimony of PW1 proves the case of the petitioner on the scales of preponderance of probabilities. Further there is no objection to the grant of Letter of Administration in the present case from any corner of the society. Respondent no.2 and 3 have also given statement before the court on 16.09.2025 to the effect that they have no objection if letter of admistration is granted in favour of their sister/petitioner.
20. PW1 in her evidence has deposed that Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral were residing at F-166, Lajpat Nagar-1, New Delhi-110024 at the time of their death. Further the same is corroborated by Ex. PW1/4 and Ex.PW1/5. Therefore, in terms of Section 270 of the Indian Succession Act, this Court has jurisdiction as the deceased had fixed place of abode at the time of their death within the jurisdiction of this court.
21. Therefore, in view of above discussions and from the unrebutted testimony on record, the Letter of Administration is granted in favour of petitioner Mandeep Kaur W/o Harkirat Singh, being the Class-I Legal Heir of late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral for operating the the joint locker no.122 (locker no.0774R0200122) in locker account no.110 in Punjab and Sindh Bank, Krishna Market, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi.
PC No:35/2025 Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 6 of 7
22. The Letter of Administration be issued on the prescribed Form (Schedule VII) on furnishing appropriate Stamps/Court fee as per the Court Fee Act, 1870 as well as Administrative Bond with one Surety bond so that properties of deceased lying in the abovesaid Locker may be administered as per law. The Court fee be furnished within two months as per valuation of the jewellery articles which has already come on record.
23. It is made clear that any expression in this judgment does not tantamount to any finding either on ownership, title and share in the properties of the deceased.
24. Accordingly, the petition stands allowed in favour of petitioner Mandeep Kaur W/o Harkirat Singh being the Class-I Legal Heirs of late Smt. Inderjeet Kaur and late Sh. Gurdev Singh @ Gurdev Singh Gujral.
25. File be consigned to Record Room.
Digitally signed
Pritam by Pritam Singh
Announced in open court Date:
Singh 04:50:13 +0530
2026.03.06
on 06.03.2025
(PRITAM SINGH)
DJ-04/South-East, Saket Courts,
New Delhi
PC No:35/2025
Mandeep Kaur Vs. State and Ors Page no. 7 of 7