SC: when Hindu Male has bequeathed his Undivided Coparcenary Interest by Will, no further independent share could be claimed. Read Judgment.

January 24, 2019:

On Wednesday, Division Bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Ajay Rastogi upheld the decision of High Court of Karnataka in the case involving Mitakshara Coparcenary Joint Family Property.

An appeal was filed before the Apex Court against the judgment of the High Court of Karnataka holding that the appellants are not entitled to claim any share in the joint family properties.

The appellants/plaintiffs had filed a suit in the year 1976 for 1/10th share in the suit properties.

The SC Bench observed that the law insofar as it applies to joint family property governed by the Mitakshara school, prior to the amendment of 2005, when a male Hindu dies after the commencement of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 leaving at the time of his death an interest in Mitakshara coparcenary property,   his   interest   in   the   property   will   devolve   by survivorship upon the surviving members of the coparcenary.

An exception is contained in the explanation to Section 30 of the Act making it clear that the interest of a male Hindu in Mitakshara coparcenary property can be disposed of by him by Will or any other testamentary disposition.

In the present case, the testator was qualified to execute a Will   bequeathing   his undivided   share   in   the   joint   family   properties   by   a   Will dated 16.6.1962.

The Supreme Court held that the appellants in claiming independent share as a member of the family in the joint family properties is without substance for the reason that the appellants have no independent share in the joint family properties and their share could be devolved in the undivided share of the testator in the joint family properties and since the testator   has   bequeathed   his   share/his undivided coparcenary interest by Will dated 16.6.1962, no further independent share could be claimed by the appellants in the ancestral properties as a member of the family.

Read Judgment @ LatestLaws.com

RADHAMMA & ORS Vs H.N. MUDDUKRISHNA & ORS- 23-01-2019 (Downloadable PDF)

Radhamma & Ors vs h.n. Muddukrishna & Ors- 23-01-2019 by Anonymous P3qxYB on Scribd

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