Ratan Udharam Bhatia vs Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia (Deceased) — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Ratan Udharam Bhatia vs Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia (Deceased) — Bombay HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Letters of Administration with Will annexed granted to Petitioner Mahesh Gopal Bhatia as one of the legatees named under the last will and testament of deceased Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia, having effect throughout Maharashtra; Department directed to issue the Grant within 3 weeks; disposal subject to compliance of office objections, if any.

Issue for consideration

Whether Letters of Administration with Will annexed may be granted to the Petitioner, Mahesh Gopal Bhatia, as one of the legatees named under the last will and testament of the deceased Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia, having effect throughout Maharashtra.

Court's answer

In view of the consent affidavits of the legal heirs, there can be no impediment in allowing the Petition; the Testamentary Petition is allowed and disposed of in terms of the un-numbered prayer clause, i.e., grant of Letters of Administration with Will annexed to the Petitioner as one of the legatees named under the deceased's last will and testament, having effect throughout Maharashtra.

Ratio / Principle

The Department is directed to issue the Grant as directed above within a period of 3 weeks from the date of the order, positively.

Key takeaways

The Testamentary Petition is allowed and disposed subject to compliance of office objections, if any, forthwith, which shall be allowed by the Department.ratio¶26

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Testamentary Petition No. 3149 of 2024 (High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Testamentary & Intestate Jurisdiction; Milind N. Jadhav J.; decided 28 April 2025). Filed by Mahesh Gopal Bhatia for issuance of Letters of Administration with Will annexed, having effect throughout Maharashtra, in respect of the properties and credits of deceased Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia, the Petitioner being one of the legatees named under the deceased's last will and testament. Consent affidavits dated 27.03.2025 and 28.03.2025 of the legal heirs Anisha Sanjay Gandhi, Geeta Gopal Bhatia and Kamna Dilip Shewakramani were appended at Nos. 18, 18B and 18D of the Petition. Holding: with the legal heirs' consents in place there was no impediment to allowance; the Petition was allowed and disposed of in terms of the prayer clause, the Department being directed to issue the Grant within 3 weeks, subject to compliance of office objections, if any. No statute or precedent was cited.

M2.TP3149.2024.2024

Ajay

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY

TESTAMENTARY & INTESTATE JURISDICTION

TESTAMENTARY PETITION NO.3149 OF 2024

Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia .. Deceased Mahesh Gopal Bhatia .. Petitioner

Mr. Madhav Shah, Advocate for Petitioner.

CORAM : MILIND N. JADHAV, J. DATE : APRIL 28, 2025.

P.C.:

1. Not on Board. Mentioned by way of filing praecipe dated

28.04.2026. Perused the praecipe.

2. Heard Mr. Shah, learned Advocate for Petitioner.

3. Present Testamentary Petition is filed by Petitioner for

issuance of Letters of Administration in respect of the properties and credits of deceased Gopal Lakhmichand Bhatia. The names and details of legal heirs of the deceased are stated in paragraph No. 10 of the Petition. Purpose for filing the present Petition is stated in paragraph No. 9 of the Petition. I have perused the same.

4. Consent affidavits dated 27.03.2025 and 28.03.2025 of

Anisha Sanjay Gandhi, Geeta Gopal Bhatia and Kamna Dilip Shewakramani, the legal heirs of the deceased are appended to page

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M2.TP3149.2024.2024

Nos. 18, 18B and 18D of the Petition.

5. In view of the above, there can be no impediment in

allowing the Petition. Testamentary Petition is allowed and disposed of in terms of un-numbered prayer clause which reads thus:-

“The Petitioner therefore prays that Letters of Administration with Will annexed may be granted to him as one of the legatee named under the last will and testament of the abovenamed deceased having effect throughout Maharashtra.”

6. Department is directed to issue the Grant as directed above

within a period of 3 weeks from today positively.

7. Testamentary Petition is allowed and disposed subject to

compliance of office objections, if any, forthwith which shall be allowed by the Department.

[ MILIND N. JADHAV, J. ]

Ajay

Digitally signed by AJAY AJAY TRAMBAK TRAMBAK UGALMUGALE UGALMUGALE Date: 2026.04.29 10:35:41 +0530

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