LAWS(CAL)-2006-12-74

IN THE GOODS OF SMT. PRIYAMVADA DEVI BIRLA (DEED.) KRISHNA KUMARBIRLA AND ORS. Vs. REJENDRA SINGH LODHA AND ORS.

Decided On December 21, 2006
In The Goods Of Smt. Priyamvada Devi Birla (Deed.) Krishna Kumarbirla And Ors. Appellant
V/S
Rejendra Singh Lodha And Ors. Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These appeals have been filed by Krishna. Kumar Birla (hereinafter referred to as KKB), Basan Kumar Birla (hereinafter referred to as BKB) and Yashovardhan Birla (thereinafter referred to as YB) against the judgment of the Hon'ble First Court discharging their caveats in the proceeding for grant of probate of the Will dated 18th April, 1999 and Codicil dated 15th April, 2003 of Late Smt. Priyamvada Devi Birla (hereinafter referred to as PDB).

(2.) The question arose in this matter whether the Appellants have any caveatable interest in the Estate of the said deceased PDB in the facts of the case.

(3.) Mr. S. B. Mookherjee, Learned Senior Advocate appearing in support of the appeal filed on behalf of the KKB contended that it cannot be disputed that there were mutual Wills left behind by MPB and PDB. He also drew our attention to a decision reported in : 2006 (2) SCC 757 (Shivanath Prasad v/s. State of West Bengal and Ors.) and submitted that the undisputed facts are that the couple executed mutual Wills in 1981 arid in 1982 the couple executed fresh mutual Wills after revoking the earlier mutual Wills. He further contended that the concept of the mutual Wills has now been recognized in our country and he relied upon the following decisions reported in ), : 1986 (1) SCC 701 (Dilharshankar C. Bhachech v/s. Controller of Estate Duty) and, 1993 All E. R. 129 (Re: Dale (deceased) Proctor v/s. Dale).