R.J. Devendran Vs R.J. Jayachandran and 14 others

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED: 23-06-2026

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CORAM

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THE HON'BLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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R.J. Devendran S/o. Late R.K.Janakiah Chetty, 18/11, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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..Petitioner(s)

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Vs

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R.J. Jayachandran and 14 others S/o. Late R.K.Janakiah Chetty, NO.18/11, Bishop Lane, Purasawalkam, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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R.J.Devarajulu S/o. Late R.K.Janakiah Chetty, NO.18/11, Bishop Lane, Purasawalkam, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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Ramagiri Janakiah Chockanathan S/o. Late R.K.Janakiah Chetty, NO.18/11, Bishop Lane, Purasawalkam, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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R.J.Doraisamy S/o. Late R.K.Janakiah Chetty, NO.18/11, Bishop Lane, Purasawalkam, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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V.Thirupurasundari W/o. V.C.Damodaram Sri Sai Vaathsalayam Plot No.12 and 13, Aishwarya Nagar, Nolambur, Thiruvallur, Chennai 600 095.

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G.Meenakshi W/o. Late G.Koteeswaran, 23/9, Damodaran Street, Perambur, Chennai 600 011.

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V.J.Narayani W/o. Late V.C.Janakiraman, No.27/35, 1st Floor, State Bank Colony, 2nd Street, Santhi Illam, Jamaliya, VTC Otteri, PO, Perambur Barracks, Chennai 600 012.

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K.N.Gayathri W/o. Narendra Babu.K. 38/35,36th Street, O Block, Anna Nagar East, Chennai 600 102.

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Ramagiri Lakshminarayanan Champakavalli, W/o. Late R.J. Lakshmi Narayanan, NO.18/11, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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10.R.L.Renuka

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W/o. Vijaya Baskar Mumudi, NO.18/11, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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11.Lalith Kumar Ramagiri s/o. Late R.J.Lakshmi Narayanan, NO.18/11, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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12.Ramagiri Rukmangathan Sasikala (Deceased) W/o. Late R.J. Rukmangathan, NO.18/11, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai 600 007.

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13.B.K.Jayalakshmi W/o. Krishna Murthy, New No.1, Old No.11, Ponnuvel Puram, 2nd Street, Ayanpuram, Ayanavaram, Chennai 600 023.

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14.Dhakshayani W/o. Premchandar, 118, Kaliyammal Kovil Street, Gokilapuram, Uthampalayam, Theni 625 526.

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15.Ramagiri Rukmangathan Komal D/o. Late R.J.Rukmangathan, NO.18/11, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai 600 007. (The Respondents 13,14 and 15 are the Legal Respresentatives of Deceased 12th Respondent. Amended as per the order of the Master Dated 04.09.2025)

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..Respondent(s)

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Prayer : Original Petition filed under section 372 of the Indian Succession Act to issue Succession Certificate to the petitioner with power to collect the Securities and to receive the interest and Dividends on and negotiate and transfer the securities more specifically mentioned in the schedule hereunder. Net Amount of Rs.2,95,214.35/-/- Suc Duty of Rs.9,000/- paid on 09.12.2022 D.No.36008/2022.

For Petitioner(s):

Mr.S.Ganesh

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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ORDER

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This Original Petition has been filed under Part X of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, seeking grant of Succession Certificate in favour of the petitioner, R.J. Devendran, in respect of the securities standing in the name of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty, more fully described in the schedule to the petition, with power to collect the securities, receive interest and dividends thereon, and negotiate or transfer the same.

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The case of the petitioner is that late R.K. Janakiah Chetty was ordinarily residing at No.11/18, Bishops Lane, Vepery, Chennai – 600 007. He died on 29.01.1997 at Oshiwara Link, Mumbai. The petitioner states that the deceased died intestate and that, despite diligent search, no Will has been found.

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The petitioner is one of the sons of the deceased. Respondent Nos.1 to 4 are the other sons of the deceased and respondent Nos.5 to 8 are the daughters of the deceased. The wife of the deceased, R.B. Lakshmi, died on 04.04.2003.

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It is further stated that two other sons of the deceased, namely R.J. Lakshminarayanan and R.J. Rukmangathan, died on 08.05.2018 and 15.08.2020

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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respectively. Respondent No.9 is the wife of late R.J. Lakshminarayanan and respondent Nos.10 and 11 are his daughter and son. Respondent No.12, Ramagiri Rukmangathan Sasikala, who was the wife of late R.J. Rukmangathan, died during the pendency of this petition on 02.02.2023. Her legal representatives are already on record as respondent Nos.13 to 15. The said fact has been recorded on the basis of the memo filed by the petitioner and the death certificate produced in support thereof.

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The petition relates only to the securities/share certificates standing in the name of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty. The petitioner has stated that the companies/registrars concerned require production of Succession Certificate for processing the request for transmission of the shares. The value of the securities for which Succession Certificate is sought is stated to be Rs.2,95,028.40/-.

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The petitioner was examined as P.W.1. He filed his proof affidavit and reiterated the averments in the petition. He stated that late R.K. Janakiah Chetty died intestate; that the petitioner and the respondents are the surviving legal heirs/legal representatives in their respective branches; and that Succession Certificate is required for realising the benefits arising from the share certificates.

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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On the side of the petitioner, Exs.P1 to P27 were marked. Ex.P1 is the

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death certificate of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty. Ex.P2 is the legal heirship certificate of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty. Ex.P3 is the legal heirship certificate of

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late R.J. Lakshminarayanan. Ex.P4 is the death certificate of late R.J. Rukmangathan. Ex.P5 is the death certificate of R.B. Lakshmi/Bakkialakshmi. Ex.P6 is the legal heirship certificate of late R.J. Rukmangathan. Ex.P7 is the death certificate of late R.J. Lakshminarayanan. Ex.P8 is the Aadhaar card of the petitioner. Exs.P9 to P22 are the letters/e-mail communications issued by the concerned companies/registrars along with the relevant share certificates. Exs.P23 to P25 are further share certificates. Ex.P26 is the paper publication effected in the Tamil daily “Maalai Tamizhagam” dated 07.10.2025. Ex.P27 is the affidavit under Section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023.

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The original/available share certificates and supporting communications were produced and compared at the time of marking, as recorded in the deposition of P.W.1.

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Notice was ordered to the respondents and to the Court Notice Board. Service was completed against the respondents . Consent affidavits have been filed by the surviving respondents/legal heirs stating that they have no objection for grant of Succession Certificate in favour of the petitioner in respect of the share certificates standing in the name of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty.

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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General paper publication was also ordered and effected in one issue of the Tamil daily “Maalai Tamizhagam”. The affidavit of service was verified and recorded by the learned Master. When the matter was called after paper publication, no objection was raised by any person.

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In the present case, the death of the deceased, the relationship of the petitioner and respondents with the deceased, the intestacy, the existence of the securities, the requirement of Succession Certificate, and the consent of the surviving respondents/legal heirs have been proved by oral and documentary evidence. No objection has been received either from the respondents or from any third party.

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In view of the above, this Court is satisfied that the petitioner has made out a case for grant of Succession Certificate in respect of the securities standing in the name of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty, more fully described in the schedule to the petition.

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Accordingly, this Original Petition is allowed. Succession Certificate shall be issued in favour of the petitioner, R.J. Devendran, in respect of the

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OP No. 625 of 2024

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securities/share certificates standing in the name of late R.K. Janakiah Chetty,

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more fully described in the schedule to the petition, with power to collect the

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securities, receive interest and dividends thereon, and negotiate or transfer the

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same.

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23-06-2026

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Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No

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vrc

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Petitioner Side Witnesses :

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P.W.1 Mr.R.J.Devendran

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Petitioner Side Documents :

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Ex.P.1 : Copy of the death certificate of R.K.Janakiah Chetty Ex.P.2 : Copy of the legal heirship certificate of R.K.Janakiah Chetty Ex.P.3 : Computer generated hereunder certificate of R.J.Lakshminarayanan

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Ex.P.4 : Computer generated death certificate of R.Rukmangathan Ex.P.5 : Computer generated death certificate of Bakkialakshmi Ex.P.6 : Computer generated legal heirship certificate of R.J.Rukmangathan

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Ex.P.7 : Computer generated death certificate of R.J.Lakshminarayanan Ex.P.8 : Copy of petitioner’s Adhar Card Ex.P.9 : Copy of the letter dated 05.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 3 share certificates bearing Nos.21406, 4851 & 9187 respectively

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Ex.P.10 : Copy of the letter dated 07.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with a share certificates bearing No.10218

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Ex.P.11 : Copy of the letter dated 07.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 6 share certificates bearing Nos.21218, 101451, 662, 3603, 7935 and 41776

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Ex.P.12 : Copy of the letter dated 07.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with a share certificates bearing No.210216

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Ex.P.13 : Copy of the letter dated 11.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with a share certificates bearing No.160785

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Ex.P.14 : Copy of the letter dated 28.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 5 share certificates bearing Nos.113533, 7298, 30056, 128972 & 128973

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Ex.P.15 : Copy of the letter dated 28.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with a share certificate bearing No.11221

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Ex.P.16 : Copy of the letter dated 07.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 2 share certificates bearing Nos.013091 & 013092

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Ex.P.17 : Copy of the letter dated 17.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 3 share certificates bearing Nos.73056, 73057 & 11541

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Ex.P.18 : Copy of the letter dated 25.03.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with a share certificate bearing No.1145

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Ex.P.19 : Copy of the letter dated 28.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 2 share certificates bearing Nos.2112 & 2111

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Ex.P.20 : Copy of the letter dated 09.02.2022 sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with 4 share certificates bearing Nos.7505, 7506, 3179 & 3180

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Ex.P.21 : Email Communication sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with a share certificate dated 24.01.1987

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Ex.P.22 : Email Communication sent to Mr.R.J.Devendran along with two share certificates bearing Nos.216980 & E 20041

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Ex.P.23 : Copy of Share Certificate bearing NO.0013288 Ex.P.24 : Copy of Share Certificate bearing No.4001 Ex.P.25 : Copies of share certifcates bearing Nos.7060, 7661, 7662 & 70663

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