O.P. No. 579 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 13.07.2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE A.D.MARIA CLETE OP No. 579 of 2025 B.Sudharshana Bharathi S/o.S.Balasubramanian, 1451, Apartment 428, Al Barsha-1, Al Barsha, Dubai, UAE. ..Petitioner(s) Vs No Respondent Nil ..Respondent(s) Prayer: That Succession Certificate may be granted to the petitioner favour with power to collect the debts and negotiate and transfer the Securities specified in the Schedule hereto. Net amount of Rs.38,61,725.40 Suc duty of Rs.25,000/- paid on 26.09.2025. For Petitioner(s): M/s.MENON Karthik Mukundan Neelakantan For Respondent(s): Nil 1/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis O.P. No. 579 of 2025 ORDER This Original Petition has been filed under Section 372 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, seeking the issuance of a Succession Certificate in favour of the petitioner in respect of the debts and securities left by the deceased Geetha Balasubramanian, as set out in the Schedule to the petition. 2. The petitioner's case is that his mother, Geetha Balasubramanian, died intestate on 02.02.2024 at NMC Royal Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At the time of her death, she was ordinarily resident at H-4/2, Kaveri Apartments, L.B. Road, Adyar, Chennai, within the jurisdiction of this Court. 3. The petitioner, B. Sudharshana Bharathi, is the deceased's only son. The deceased's husband, namely, S. Balasubramanian, predeceased her on 29.10.2018. The deceased's parents also predeceased her. According to the petitioner, there are no other legal heirs entitled to succeed to the deceased's estate, and he is her sole surviving Class-I legal heir. 4. It is further stated that the deceased had not executed any Will and that, despite a due and diligent search, no testamentary instrument could be found. 2/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis O.P. No. 579 of 2025 The present petition is confined to the jewels kept in Locker No. NS-1/137, maintained with the State Bank of India, Thiruvanmiyur Branch, and has been valued at Rs.38,61,725.40 as per the inventory prepared by the Bank. 5. By order dated 15.12.2025, the learned Master directed general publication. Pursuant thereto, publication was made in the Tamil daily “Dina Kural” on 07.01.2026. On 04.02.2026, objections were called for in open Court. No objection was received from any person. 6. Before the Master, the petitioner was examined as P.W.1, and Ex.P1 to Ex.P6 were marked. Ex.P1 is the death certificate of Geetha Balasubramanian; Ex.P2 is the legal heirship certificate; Ex.P3 is the death certificate of S. Balasubramanian, the husband of the deceased; Ex.P4 is the inventory prepared by the State Bank of India for the contents of Locker No. NS-1/137 maintained at its Thiruvanmiyur Branch; Ex.P5 is the newspaper publication in the Tamil daily “Dina Kural” on 07.01.2026; and Ex.P6 is the certificate issued under Section 63(4)(c) of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023. 3/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis O.P. No. 579 of 2025 7. On considering the oral and documentary evidence, this Court is satisfied that the deceased died intestate, that the petitioner is her sole surviving Class-I legal heir, and that no impediment under Section 370 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, exists to the grant of the relief sought. 8. Accordingly, this Original Petition is allowed. A Succession Certificate shall be issued in favour of the petitioner, B. Sudharshana Bharathi, in respect of the assets of the deceased Geetha Balasubramanian described in the Schedule to the petition, namely, the contents of Locker No. NS-1/137 maintained with the State Bank of India, Thiruvanmiyur Branch, as detailed in the inventory marked Ex.P4, together with authority to receive and realise the same, subject to payment of the requisite Court fee and compliance with the usual formalities, including furnishing security, indemnity or undertaking, as may be required by the Registry, with power to collect the debts and to receive the interest and dividends on and negotiate and for terminal benefits, if any, specified in the Schedule, as applicable till the date of withdrawal, is issued. No costs. 13-07-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order Neutral Citation: Yes/No AY 4/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis O.P. No. 579 of 2025 List of witnesses examined on the side of the petitioner: PW1 – B.Sudharshana Bharathi List of documents marked on the side of the petitioner: Ex.P1 is the photocopy of the death certificate of Geetha Balasubramanian Shankaran (compared with the original) Ex.P2 is the computer generated legal heirship certificate of Geetha Balasubramanian. Ex.P3 is the computer generated death certificate of S.Balasubramanian. Ex.P4 is the photocopy of the form of inventory of contents of safe deposit locker dated 05.04.2024 (compared with the original) Ex.P5 is the copy of paper publication effected in one issue of Tamil daily “Dina Kural” dated 07.01.2026. Ex.P6 is the certificate filed under Section 63 (4)(c) of BSA. 13.07.2026 ay 5/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis O.P. No. 579 of 2025 DR.A.D.MARIA CLETE, J. AY OP No. 579 of 2025 13-07-2026 6/6 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis