Research › Search › Judgment

Uttarakhand High Court · body

2001 DIGILAW 40 (UTT)

J. D. Jain v. Late Swami Omkaranand Saraswati

2001-03-23

M.C.JAIN

body2001
JUDGMENT Hon'ble M. C. Jain, J. : Sri Anurag Basaria for the petitioner and Sri. L. P. Naithani for the caveators appear. On the last date, the petitioner, who has applied for the grant of probate in his 'favour on the basis of a will dated 26; 12.1999 allegedly executed by the deceased Swami Omkarananda Saraswati, who died in Austria on 4.1,2000 was required to choose as to whether he wants to prosecute the present proceedings or suit no. 2 of 2000. Which he has filed in the Court of District Judge, Dehradun, The learned counsel' for the petitioner states that the suit as well as there proceedings can be maintained together as per section 215 of the U. P. Reorganisation Act, 1925, He prays for and is allowed two weeks and no more time to file his 'stand in this behalf in writing with copy served on the other side. The caveators-opposite parties may file their reply there to in another two weeks. 2. Another application has been made by the petitioner that the preliminary issue be framed as regards the maintainability of the case. The case has been instituted by the petitioner. The Caveators have a right to file objection. There is no question of trying any issue as preliminary issue. This application is rejected. 3. This is an application made by the caveators for modification of the order dated 24.5.2000 and for direction permitting any of them to operate the bank accounts of 'the deceased, The application is supported by an affidavit of one Pratap Singh. It is opposed by the petitioner. 4. The brief facts necessary to be stated are that one Swami Onkarananda Saraswati died in Austria on 4.1.2000. He was a citizen of India. Basing his claim on a will allegedly executed by him on 26.12.1999, the petitioner has instituted these proceedings for the grant of probate in his favour in respect of the estate of the deceased saying that he has been appointed as executor in the will. On the other hand, the caveators dispute the execution of the said will by the deceased. Instead, according, to them, the deceased executed a will on 20.12.1999 in favour of Swami Onkaranand Saraswati Cheritable Trust. On the other hand, the caveators dispute the execution of the said will by the deceased. Instead, according, to them, the deceased executed a will on 20.12.1999 in favour of Swami Onkaranand Saraswati Cheritable Trust. The contention of the caveators is that as many as 69 institutions are being run and managed, for the expenditure of which the funds were being provided from the personal bank accounts of the deceased. Therefore, the funds are needed to run the Trust and institutions. It also their case that in the life time of the deceased, his bank accounts were being operated by one of the caveators namely Swami Visveshrananda Saraswati as his Attorney. 5. It may be pointed out that the Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the genuineness or otherwise of a. will which is either relied upon by the petitioner in support of his petition or is set up by the opposite party in defence as having been executed by the deceased. Suffice is to say that 'Power of Attorney' is co-terminus with the death of the executor and as such after the death of the executor, the power of Attorney in favour of Swami Vineshwarananda has no sanctity. It is found that the caveators have challenged the will dated 26.12.1999 set up by the petitioner as the basis of his petitioner. 6. It is also apparent from the documents filed on record that all the bank accounts are in the personal name of the deceased. Therefore, it has to be decided as to whether the deceased executed the will dated 26.12.1999 setup by the petitioner or one dated 20.12.1999 set up by the caveators in support of their defence. Till this question is decided, no money can be permitted to be withdrawn by the caveators. The application made by the caveators for the modification of the order dated 24.5.2000, can not be granted at this stage. This application is hereby rejected, meaning thereby that the stay order dated 24.5.2000 whereby the bank accounts of the deceased have been freezed with the direction that no withdrawal shall be made there from by anybody shall continue. List on 24.5.2001.