The Dindoshi civil court passed an order in favour of a widow and her minor son, granting them a 50 per cent right over her mother-in-law’s flat in Goregaon who passed away intestate or without making a will. The complainant’s brother-in-law was not allowing her the right, compelling her to move the court. This incident has once again stressed on the need to make wills during the lifetime of property owners to avoid unwanted succession disputes.

The case

Dipti Varma had moved a petition before the Civil Court, Dindoshi in 2017 seeking 50 per cent rights over a 390 sq feet  (carpet area) flat in Bal Ratna CHS, Goregaon West. She said that her late husband Ranjit was one of the sons of late Radhakrishna and Rajeshwari Varma and stayed at the flat. She added that Ranjit died due to sickness on April 2, 2016. She added that the said property was in the name of her father-in-law Radhakrishna Varma, who died on January 6, 1999 and after his death the flat was transferred in the name of her mother-in-law Rajeshwari, who passed away on January 22, 2008, without making any will. Her lawyer advocate Anil D’Souza said that after Rajeshwari’s death, the flat would belong to her two sons. However, as Dipti’s brother-in-law was not allowing the same, she had to move court.