Property & Succession Archives - Lawwatch : Legal Resources for Learners

Mutation or Paying Land Tax Does Not Create or Extinguish the Title of the Property

By K Rajasekharan 5 June 2025Property & SuccessionNo Comments

The mutation of the property and acceptance of land tax done under the Transfer of Registry Rules, 1966 (in Kerala) will, by itself, neither create or extinguish the title, nor has it any presumptive value on the title.

A Son, Who attained Majority, has no Right in Father’s Property

By K Rajasekharan 14 April 2025Property & Succession

A legal heir, such as the wife, son daughter etc, has no right in the self-acquired property of any of his/her parents so long as they are alive. The owner of the self-acquired property can dispose of the self-acquired property in any manner he wishes to do.

Registering a Sale Deed Cannot be Declined for Not Producing Prior Deeds

By K Rajasekharan 8 April 2025Property & Succession

For registration of a sale deed, prior deeds are not essential The Registration Act, 1908 does not authorize the Registering Authority to deny registration of a sale or transfer deed on the ground that the seller's title documents are not produced or that the seller’s title is unproven, says the Supreme Court (SC) in K. Gopi v The Sub-Registrar & Others [2025 INSC 462].

Execution of a Valid Will: SC Guidelines

By K Rajasekharan 12 February 2025Property & Succession

The Supreme Court (SC) has laid down following requirements for the execution of a valid Will, under Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (ISA), in Meena Pradhan & Others v Kamala Pradhan & Another [2023INSC847].

Prove Readiness & Willingness to Claim Specific Performance

By K Rajasekharan 31 December 2024Property & Succession

The plaintiff in a suit for specific performance of a contract must provide direct, specific, and accurate pleadings that he is willing and ready to perform his obligations in the contract and such pleadings must be proved with evidence, says the Supreme Court ( SC) in P. Ravindranath & Anr. v. Sasikala & Ors [2024 INSC 533].

Suits for Recovery of Tittle to be filed within 3 Years, not 12 Years

By K Rajasekharan 22 December 2024Property & Succession

The period of limitation for trying to regain title and recover the possession of the suit property by seeking to get the sale deed set aside would be three years, but not twelve years, says the Supreme Court (SC) in its judgement in Mallavva & Anr. v Kalsammanavara Kalamma (Since Dead) By Legal Heirs & Ors. [ 2024 INSC 1021.

Right of the Legal Heir over the Nominee on a Bank Deposit

By K Rajasekharan 20 December 2024Property & Succession

Who is the legitimate claimant when the bank deposit/insurance amount of a deceased person is claimed simultaneously by both the nominee on the one hand and the legal heir on the other? The laws have no specific provision to differentiate between legitimacy of a nominee and a legal heir in receiving the deposit/insurance amount of the deceased person. But a few case laws shed light on the issue.

Children of a Void Marriage entitled for Inheritance under HMA

By K Rajasekharan 3 December 2024Property & Succession

Even if the second marriage of a Hindu under Hindu Marriage Act is held to be void, the children born out of the void wedlock are also entitled for terminal benefits of the deceased, says Kerala High Court in Anita v Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd.

HC Guidelines on Transfer of Registry of a Property on the Basis of a Will

By K Rajasekharan 29 November 2024Property & Succession

The High Court of Kerala, in paragraph 17 of the judgement, in Babu R v State of Kerala [2024:KER:84934] on the above findings, formulated guidelines to be followed by the Revenue Officers under the Transfer of Registry rules (TR Rules) while considering the mutation) of the property on the basis of Will or testamentary succession.

Attachment & Sale of a Property in Execution of a Decree

By K Rajasekharan 27 November 2024Civil law, Property & Succession

One of the modes of execution of a decree of a civil court is either by attachment and sale, or by sale without attachment, of any property. The provisions relating to sale of property in an execution proceeding are Sections 65 to 73, and the Rules 64 to 94 of the Order 21, of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 (CPC). The Chapter VIII of the Civil Rules of Practice Kerala state the procedural matters relating to execution. The provisions cover both movable and immovable properties.

Grounds on which Gift can be Revoked

By K Rajasekharan 26 November 2024Property & Succession

A valid gift, which cannot normally be revoked, can be revoked under specified eventualities enumerated in Section 126 of the Transfer of Property Act 1882, says the Supreme Court (SC) in Tajuddin v Tamil Nadu Khadi and Village Industries Board (2024 (6) KLT SN 14 SC].

Guidelines on Service of Summons to Indians residing Outside India

By K Rajasekharan 17 November 2024Property & Succession

In regard to service of summons to Indian residing outside India, a Three Judge Bench of the High Court of Kerala laid down the following conclusions in Charuvila Philipose Sundaran Pillai & Another v P. N. Sivadasan & Other.