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Ratio Decidendi:
An unfair disposition of property or an unjust exclusion of the legal heirs,
particularly the dependants, is regarded as a suspicious circumstance.
JUDGMENT
Dinesh Maheshwari, J.
INTRODUCTION WITH BRIEF OUTLINE
1 . This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment and order dated
27.06.2014 in FAO No. 36 of 2010, whereby the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi has
dismissed the appeal preferred by the present Appellant and has affirmed the
judgment and order dated 23.11.2009 as passed by the Additional District Judge,
West District, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi in Probate Case No. 465 of 2006, resulting in
rejection of the Appellant's prayer for grant of probate in relation to the Will dated
20.05.2003, said to have been executed by the mother of the contesting parties1.
13. That at the hearing, R-2, taking a leaf out of R-3's book, relies upon a
1 Hereinafter also referred to as 'the contested Will' or 'the Will in question' or the
'document in question'.
2 The Respondent No. 1 of the present appeal was on record as Respondent No. 2 in
the Trial Court and High Court. Therefore, reference to her in the impugned
judgments and other proceedings shall appear with description as 'Respondent No. 2'.
However, for continuity of expressions in this judgment, she is referred to as 'the
Respondent No. 1' with contextual clarification wherever required.
3 Similar to FN 2 ibid., the Respondent No. 2 of the present appeal was on record as
Respondent No. 3 in the Trial Court and High Court. Therefore, in the impugned
judgments and other proceedings he is described as 'Respondent No. 3'. However, for
continuity of expressions in this judgment, he is referred to as 'the Respondent No. 2'
with contextual clarification wherever required.
4 Hereinafter also referred to as 'the Succession Act'.
5 Though in the affidavit-in-evidence, the Appellant had mentioned that her mother
had written the introduction portion as also the concluding portion on the Will.
6 Hereinafter also referred to as 'the Evidence Act'.
7 The referred provisions of Code of Civil Procedure read as under:
Order VIII Rule 10:
"10. Procedure when party fails to present written statement called for by Court.-
Where any party from whom a written statement is required Under Rule 1 or Rule 9
fails to present the same within the time permitted or fixed by the Court, as the case
may be, the Court shall pronounce judgment against him, or make such order in
relation to the suit as it thinks fit and on the pronouncement of such judgment a
decree shall be drawn up."
Order XIV Rule 1(6): "1. Framing of issues.-
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(6) Nothing in this Rule requires the Court to frame and record issues where the
Defendant at the first hearing of the suit makes no defence."
Order XV Rule 2(1):
"2. One of several Defendants not at issue.- (1) Where there are more Defendants
than one, and any one of the Defendants is not at issue with the Plaintiff on any
question of law or of fact, the Court may at once pronounce judgment for or against