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As per Will amount can be withdrawn from bank account of deceased?

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO.12350 OF 2015

Amol Rajgonda Patil
vs.
The Manager,
Canara Bank Anr.

CORAM : A.S.OKA,
A. K. MENON, JJ.

DATE : 20th APRIL, 2017

1. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and the learned   counsel   appearing   for   the   respondent   no.2.     In   this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, we are concerned with the bank accounts held by one Smt. Shevantibai Bhimgonda Patil.   The details of the bank accounts have been mentioned in the prayer clause (b).

2. The petitioner is the grandson of the said Shevantibai.  The said Shevantibai made a Registered Will dated 12th December, 2007 by which a specific bequest is purportedly made in favour of the petitioner in respect of the amount standing to her credit in her bank   account   in   Ratnakar   Bank  Limited.     Another   bequest   is purportedly made in favour of the petitioner in respect of the movable   and   immovable   assets   which   are   not   specifically mentioned in the Will.

3. The said Shevantibai died on 7th February, 2014.  The petitioner on   the   basis   of   the   Will   applied   to   Canara   Bank   as   well   as Ratnakar Bank seeking withdrawal of the amounts lying to the credit of the accounts held by his deceased grandmother.  Canara Bank by its letter dated 1st July, 2014 called upon the petitioner to produce a Succession Certificate.

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4. The prayer in this petition under Article 226 is for issuing a writ of   mandamus   to   both   the   banks   directing   them   to   pay   the amounts standing to the credit of the deceased to the petitioner without insisting upon production of a Succession Certificate or Probate.

5. The   submission   of   the   learned   counsel   appearing   for   the petitioner is that in view of the express provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (for short “the Succession Act”) and the law laid down by this Court, it is not mandatory for the petitioner to obtain Letters of Administration or Probate on the basis of the Will as the deceased was not a resident of Mumbai and the Will does not affect any property in Mumbai.   The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner placed reliance on the decisions of this Court which hold that in such cases, Probate or Letters of Administration is not mandatory in view of the express provisions of Section 57 of the Succession Act.  He would, therefore, submit that   the   Banks   cannot   insist   on   production   of   a   Succession Certificate as the petitioner is making a claim on the basis of the Registered  Will  of   the     account  holder.    The  learned  counsel appearing for the respondent no.1 supported the stand taken in the letter dated 1st July, 2014.

6. We   have   perused   a   copy   of   the   alleged   Will   of   deceased Shevantibai.   The Will itself discloses that though her husband pre­deceased her,  she was survived by her son and six married daughters.

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7. Under Section 370 of the Succession Act, on production of a Succession Certificate, the Banks will get a valid discharge.   In the   present   case,   admittedly,   the   petitioner   is   not   a  nominee appointed by the deceased account holder. The petitioner is not a natural legal heir who is entitled to succeed to the assets of the deceased as per the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956.

8. Therefore,   the   respondent   no.1   called   upon   the   petitioner   to produce a Succession Certificate to facilitate the speedy disposal of his claim.  We find no error in the approach adopted by the bank when it insisted on the  petitioner producing a Succession Certificate.     This   will   enable   the   Banks   to   obtain   a   valid discharge.       We   may,  however,   hold  that   on   production  of  a Succession Certificate under Section 370 of the Succession Act issued by the Competent Court to the petitioner, the respondents Banks will have to release to the petitioner the amounts standing to   the   credit   of   the   accounts   held   by   deceased   Shevantibai without insisting upon complying with other formalities such as production of an indemnity bond, consent of the natural heirs etc.   The reason is that if the Banks pay the amounts to the petitioner on production of the Succession Certificate issued by the Competent Court, the Banks will get a valid discharge.

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9. Subject to what is observed above, the petition is rejected.

(A. K. MENON, J.) (A. S. OKA, J.)

 

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