L. Pratima Devi v. State of NCT of Delhi

Delhi High Court · 11 Aug 2025 · 2025:DHC:7161
Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav
TEST.CAS. 16/2024
2025:DHC:7161
civil petition_allowed

AI Summary

The Delhi High Court granted Letters of Administration to the petitioner widow for the deceased's immovable property, clarifying that such grant authorizes estate administration without conferring ownership.

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HIGH COURT OF DELHI
TEST.CAS. 16/2024
Date of Decision: 11.08.2025 IN THE MATTER OF:
SMT. L. PRATIMA DEVI WIFE OF LATE LAISHRAM RANJEET MEETEI
HOUSE NO 142, BASANT APARTMENT, NEAR NIRYAT BHAVAN AND FIIB LANE, VASANT VIHAR, NEW DELHI- 110057 .....PETITIONER
(Through: Ms. Jyoti Babbar and Mr. Tanuj Bhadana, Advs.)
VERSUS
STATE OF NCT OF DELHI
THROUGH STANDING COUNSEL ROHIT LAISHRAM S/O. LATE LAISHRAM RANJEET MEETEI
VASANT VIHAR, NEW DELHI- 110057.
PRIYANKA LAISHRAM
D/O - LATE LAISHRAM RANJEET MEETEI
VASANT VIHAR, NEW DELHI — 110057 .....RESPONDENTS
(Through: Mr. Samyak Gangwal, Adv. for R-2&3.)
KUMAR KAURAV
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV
J U D G E M E N T
PURUSHAINDRA KUMAR KAURAV, J. (ORAL)
JUDGMENT

1. The instant petition has been filed for the following relief: “Issue letter of Administration in favour of petitioner in respect of the immovable property owned by late Sh.Laishram Ranjit Meetei”

2. The facts manifest that the deceased late Shri Laishram Ranjit Meetei (hereinafter referred to as „testator‟) was the husband of the petitioner and father of respondent Nos.[2] and 3. He left for the heavenly abode in R&R Hospital in Delhi on 25.02.2013.

3. He left one intestate property situated at 101, First Floor Plot No.2, Dhamalwadi Village Fursungi, Haveli, PS: Fursungi, Pune, Maharashtra-

412308.

4. It is the case of the petitioner that the deceased was the sole owner of a property in Pune and he acquired this property through a loan from GIC Housing Finance Ltd.

5. The petitioner also appears to have filed a petition seeking a succession certificate bearing no. SC No.217/16 which appears to have been allowed by the judgment dated 21.05.2019 by the District Court, Patiala House Court.

6. It is for the aforesaid reason, the instant petition has been filed for issuance of Letter of Administration (hereinafter referred to as „LoA‟) for the estate of the testator.

7. This matter was listed on 07.03.2024 and the Court was directed for issuance of notice. The Court has passed the following direction:

“6. Without prejudice to the above, the petitioner will take steps for publication of citations in Hindustan Times and Jansatta Newspapers, Delhi edition and in Times of India and Sakal Marathi Newspaper, Pune edition.”

8. The matter continued to proceed before the Registrar and vide the order dated 28.07.2025, it was noted that respondent Nos.[2] and 3 have given their no objection qua the present petition and the citations have also been placed on record. Valuation report of the property has also been tagged along the record.

9. Under the aforesaid circumstances, there is no impediment in granting the Letter of Administration with respect to the property in question.

10. At this stage it is pertinent to note herein that this Court in the case of Sh. Raj Rani Bhasin vs. State[1], has held that the person to whom LoA is granted does not thereby, become entitled to the property or estate of the deceased/testator and the estate still succeeds according to the law of succession applicable to the deceased/testator. The primary objective of a LoA, issued by the Court, is to authorize the appointed administrator to gather and consolidate the assets of the deceased or testator. It also allows the administrator to interact with relevant authorities where such assets are held or recorded, enabling the realization of those assets and facilitating their transfer to the rightful successors in accordance with the applicable laws of succession. It was further held that the administrator is required to, from time-to-time, to file accounts in the Court with respect to the administration of the estate and/ or as to how the estate has been settled/ transferred to the successors in accordance with the law of succession applicable to the deceased and upon the administrator defaulting in the same, the Court retains the power to revoke the grant. For the sake of clarity, Paragraph no.9 of the aforesaid decision reads as under:

“9. The person to whom letters of administration are granted does not thereby become entitled to the property or estate of the deceased. The estate still succeeds according to the law of succession application to the deceased. The purpose of Letters of Administration is merely to enable the administrator so appointed by the Court to collect/ assimilate the properties of the deceased, and/ or to deal with the various authorities with whom the properties of the deceased may be vested or recorded and to realize the same and / or to have the same transferred in the names of the successors in accordance with law of succession applicable to the deceased. The administrator is required to, from time-to-time, file accounts in the Court with respect to the administration of the estate and/ or as to how the estate has been settled/ transferred to the successors in accordance with law of succession application to the deceased and upon the administrator defaulting in the same, the Court retains the power to revoke the grant

11. In view of the aforesaid, the Court directs that the LoA be issued in favour of the petitioner by the concerned Registrar subject to furnishing the bond as well as the payment of the applicable Court fee.

12. Ordered accordingly.

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13. The instant petition stands disposed of along with other pending applications.

JUDGE AUGUST 11, 2025/p/mj