Saroja Ammal v. M. Deenadayalan and others

In the landmark case Saroja Ammal v. M. Deenadayalan and others (2022), the Hon’ble Supreme Court reinforced the principle that an individual has the right to bequeath their self-acquired property to anyone, including strangers, through a legally valid Will. This case clarified a crucial aspect of testamentary freedom under Indian succession law.

The dispute arose after Munisamy Chettiar executed a registered Will in favor of Saroja Ammal, whom he claimed was his wife, excluding his legal heirs. Following his death, the legal heirs contested the Will, alleging that it was created under suspicious circumstances and that Saroja Ammal had no lawful relationship with the deceased.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court rejected these contentions, holding that once it is established that a testator executed the Will freely, with a sound mind, and following legal formalities, the legitimacy of the beneficiary’s relationship with the testator is irrelevant. The Court ruled that even if Saroja Ammal was not his legal wife, it did not affect the Will’s validity, provided it was genuine.

This judgment reaffirmed the autonomy of an individual to dispose of their self-acquired property without being bound by claims of inheritance from legal heirs. It underscored that disinheriting legal heirs is not, by itself, suspicious if the Will is otherwise lawful.

This case sets an important precedent in testamentary law, confirming that personal freedom in property disposition outweighs customary expectations, provided the legal process is followed.

Source

https://www.supremecourtcases.com/saroja-ammal-v-m-deenadayalan-and-others/