High Courts(1914) 07 MAD CK 0025

Bommaya Hegade vs Srinivasa Hebbara and Jalayakshi, minor by her guardian Anandram Madi

Madras High Court · Decided on 14 July 1914 · Citation: AIR 1915 Mad 25(2) : 25 Ind. Cas. 900 : (1914) 27 MLJ 305

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Judgment

14 paragraphs · 344 words
1.

Following Parami v. Mahadei ILR (1910) B. 278 we hold that unless there is an ambiguity in the terms of the will of a Hindu testator, the rule

that the will of a Hindu must be construed with due regard to Hindu habits and notions has no application. That rule can be properly applied only

for the purpose of construing the terms of the will and not for the purpose of controlling or adding to its provisions. Even if that rule is applied, it

was held in that case that there is no certain and necessary implication that a Hindu who, by will provides for the maintenance of his wife after his

death, intended to deprive her of the maintenance if she becomes unchaste. Their Lordships of the Privy Council say in Rajah Venkata Narasimha

Appa Row v. Rajah Parthasarathi Appa Row (1914) 28 M.L.J. 411 ""The Court is, in no case, justified in adding to the testamentary dispositions.

The Court never adds to a will anything which needs to be done by testamentary disposition. In all cases it must loyally carry out the will as

properly construed and this duty is universal and is true alike of wills of every nationality and every religion or rank of life.

2.

The will in this case gives the testator''s widow a clear right to receive till her death a certain quantity of rice yearly for her maintenance and she

could not be deprived of such right by adding to the will certain words and terms which the testator might be presumed to have intended to add if

certain future contingencies had been in his mind when he made the will.

3.

Discharging therefore the decrees of the Lower Courts the plaintiff will be given a decree for recovery of the value of the maintenance due for all

the four years mentioned in the plaint at the rates decreed by the Munsif and with interest as mentioned therein with costs in all Courts.

4.

A similar decree will be given in the connected second appeal.