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- Refusal of injunction in a proceeding for Letters of Administration - Applicability of Civil Procedure Code to Probate proceedings - Granting of injunction in Probate proceedings - Procedure for appointment of Administrator pendente lite Analysis: 1. The appeal concerns the refusal of an injunction in a proceeding for Letters of Administration of a deceased individual's estate. The appellant and respondent are daughters of the deceased, with conflicting applications before the Court for Letters of Administration and probate of a Will, respectively. The primary issue is whether the injunction was rightly denied by the Court below, given the circumstances of the case. 2. The appellant argued that the provisions of the Civil Procedure Code are applicable to contentious cases under the Probate and Administration Act. Citing relevant sections of the Act, the appellant contended that the Court should have considered granting the injunction based on precedents from English cases. However, the Court highlighted that the essential requirement for an injunction under Order XXXIX is the existence of property in dispute at risk of being wasted, damaged, or alienated, which is not typically the case in Probate proceedings. 3. The Court emphasized that Probate proceedings primarily focus on the representation of the deceased's estate, without delving into disputes over property titles. Precedents from various cases supported the view that Probate proceedings do not qualify as suits involving property in dispute. While acknowledging the possibility of injunctions in Probate cases in England under different rules, the Court clarified the appropriate procedure in such circumstances under the Indian law. 4. The judgment clarified that while the Court of Probate has the authority to grant injunctions in certain situations, the proper course of action in cases like the present one is to apply for the appointment of an Administrator pendente lite under section 34 of the Probate and Administration Act. This approach ensures the orderly administration of the deceased's estate and addresses concerns related to property preservation and debt settlement. 5. In this specific case, the appellant failed to pursue the correct remedy under section 34 of the Probate and Administration Act. The Court decided to set aside the District Judge's order and directed the immediate appointment of an Administrator pendente lite to manage the estate. The judgment highlighted the urgency of estate administration based on the circumstances presented in the affidavit, emphasizing the need for swift action to address potential issues related to property management and debt settlement. 6. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the District Judge was instructed to appoint an Administrator pendente lite promptly. No costs were awarded for the appeal or the proceedings in the lower court, concluding the judgment on a directive to ensure the efficient administration of the deceased's estate.
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