Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras, Bench of Hon’ble Dr. Justice A.D. Maria Clete

Order Date: 03-09-2026

Case Overview

  • Petitioners: M.L. Venkatasamy (first petitioner) and his siblings M.L. Shyamala, M.L. Nirmala, M.L. Vimala, M.L. Kamala, plus heirs of deceased sibling M.L. Komala – R.S. Mirudula and R.S. Siddharth, all residing in Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
  • Respondent: None.
  • Petition filed under Section 372 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 read with Order XXV Rule 6 of the High Court Original Side Rules, seeking a succession certificate in favour of the first petitioner.
  • Deceased: M.L. Parimala, spinster, died intestate on 04-04-2021; parents V. Lakshmipathi and L. Rajeswari pre‑deceased her.
  • Legal heirs: Petitioners 1‑5 are Class I heirs; petitioners 6‑7 (children of M.L. Komala, who died 20-05-2013) are Class II heirs.
  • Assets claimed: Tata AIA Life Insurance Gold Income Plan Policy (Policy No. C226791012 dated 15-09-2017), Savings Bank Account No. 236017700, and Fixed Deposit Receipt No. 164562 dated 03-01-2022, all with Tamil Nadu State Apex Co‑operative Bank Limited, West Mambalam Branch, total net value Rs 15,57,754.40.
  • Succession duty of Rs 25,000 paid on 21-11-2024.
  • Documents produced: photocopies of insurance policy, passbook, fixed deposit receipt, death certificate (dated 20-04-2021), legal heir certificate (dated 11-08-2021), E‑Aadhaar prints of all petitioners, and consent affidavits of petitioners 2‑7.
  • All petitioners 2‑7 filed separate consent affidavits expressing willingness to grant the certificate to the first petitioner.
  • No rival claim was made before the Court.

Final Outcome

  • The Court is satisfied that the petitioners are the lawful heirs and that there is no impediment under Section 370 of the Indian Succession Act.
  • The petition is allowed; a Succession Certificate is issued in favour of M.L. Venkatasamy, empowering him to collect the securities, accrued interest, dividends and to negotiate and transfer the securities as specified, with no costs awarded.

Topics: Succession Certificate, Estate Settlement, Insurance & Bank Assets