Vrushali Ajit Bharnbure vs Anant Ramkrishna Bhambure — Succession and Inheritance | Bombay HC (2026)

Vrushali Ajit Bharnbure vs Anant Ramkrishna Bhambure — Succession and Inheritance | Bombay HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Letters of Administration granted to the petitioner Vrushali Ajit Bhambure for the properties left by the deceased Anant Rmkrishna Bhambure and shown in the schedule, in the prescribed format, having effect throughout the State of Maharashtra under the Indian Succession Act, 1925; petitioner directed to file an account as undertaken in the Petitioner's Oath within the stipulated period; office to verify no pending cross-petition or caveat before issuance of the grant.

Issue for consideration

Whether Letters of Administration for the properties left by the deceased Anant Rmkrishna Bhambure should be granted to the petitioner Vrushali Ajit Bhambure, sister-in-law of the deceased, under the Indian Succession Act, 1925. +1 more

Court's answer

Petition allowed; Letters of Administration granted to the petitioner for the properties left by the deceased and shown in the schedule, in the prescribed format, having effect throughout the State of Maharashtra as per the provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

Ratio / Principle

The facts stated on oath by the petitioner and the heirs of the deceased remained unchallenged and were therefore required to be accepted; accordingly the petition deserved to be allowed as prayed for.

Key takeaways

Since, notwithstanding citation, Collector's notice and expiry of the statutory period, nobody appeared to resist the petitioner's claim and nothing regarding pending litigation over the same properties was brought to notice, the petition was treated as an uncontested one.ratio¶9
The petitioner is directed to file an account as undertaken in the Petitioner's Oath within the stipulated period.ratio¶16
Before issuance of the grant, the office must verify that there is no cross-petition pending and no caveat resisting the petition has been filed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Testamentary Petition 83.TP/5834/2025 (Bombay High Court, Testamentary Department): Vrushali Ajit Bhambure, sister-in-law of the deceased Anant Rmkrishna Bhambure, who died a bachelor on 27-06-2010 at Mumbai, sought Letters of Administration under the Indian Succession Act, 1925 for the properties shown in Schedule I of the petition. Delay was explained vide Rule 382; citation was issued and displayed on the High Court and Collector's Office (Mumbai) notice boards with the 14-day period expired under Rule 397(1) and (4) of the Bombay High Court (O.S.) Rules, 1980, and notice issued to the Collector under Rule 396. No objector appeared and no pending litigation concerning the properties was brought to notice, so the petition was treated as uncontested. The legal heirs consented by affidavit without reserving any right, and the petitioner filed the Administration Bond in prescribed form No. 118. By order dated 28 January 2026, Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, allowed the petition and granted Letters of Administration effective throughout Maharashtra, directing the petitioner to file the account undertaken in her oath within the stipulated period and requiring the office, before issuance of the grant, to verify that no cross-petition or caveat stands.

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Before: Shri. P. A. Jagdale, Officer on Special Duty, With the Testamentary Department Date 28th January 2026

FOR COMPLIANCE:

TP/5834/2025 ) Shri. R T Kharwar Ld. Advocate for the Petitioner ) (AMH20240128954C2024000 ) 16)

P.C.:

Petitioner, namely Vrushali Ajit Bhambure, has applied for the grant of Letters of Administration, under the provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (for short “IS Act”), for the properties left by the deceased, namely Anant Rmkrishna Bhambure(For short “Said deceased”).

I have heard Ld. Advocate. I perused the documents, such as a true copy of the death certificate of the deceased, an affidavit with document to dispense with the requisition of an identity proof of the deceased, an oath in the prescribed format, affidavit of service citation.

Said deceased died as a Bachelor on 27-06-2010 at Mumbai leaving behind him legal heirs, shown in the paragraph No. 4 of the petition. Petitioner states that there are no other legal heirs to the deceased, except heirs shown in the petition. The deceased left properties shown in Schedule I of the petition. The delay has been explained vide Rule 382 of the Rules.

Office issued Citation to all concern and same has been affixed on the Notice Board of the Hon’ble High Court and notice board of the Collector’s Office at Mumbai and 14 days have been expired vide Rule 397(1) and (4) of the Bombay High Court (O.S.) Rules, 1980(for short “BHC Rules”). An affidavit to that effect has been filed. Notice to the collector has been issued vide Rule 396 of the BHC Rules. Till today, no one has appeared to resist the claim of the petitioner, nor has anything been brought to the notice regarding pending litigation about the same properties. Hence, the petition is treated as an uncontested one.

Legal heirs of the deceased have consented by way of Affidavits to grant the prayer of the petitioner to grant Letters of Administration, without reserving any right. Legal heirs have accepted the facts regarding their relationship, inter se. 6) Petitioner has filed the administration Bond in the prescribed form No. 118 with

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surety.

Ld. Advocate for the petitioner submitted that in view of provisions of the The Hindu Succession Act, 1956, the petitioner, being Sister-in-law of the deceased, is entitled to seek a Letters of Administration. Hence, facts stated by the petitioner and heirs of the deceased, on oath, remained unchallenged and required to be accepted. Accordingly, the petition deserves to be allowed, as prayed for. Hence, following order:

ORDER

1. Petition is allowed and the Letters of Administration be granted to the petitioner for properties, left by the deceased and shown in the schedule, in the prescribed format, having effect throughout the State of Maharashtra as per the provisions of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

1. The petitioner to file an account as undertaken in a Petitioner’s Oath within the stipulated period.

1. Before issuance of the grant, the office to verify that there is no cross-petition pending or caveat resisting the petition is filed.

28th January 2026

Officer on Special Duty, with the Testamentary Department