Succession To Private Properties Of Nawab Would Be Governed By His Personal Laws, Holds SC [Read Judgment]

Nawab Raza Ali Khan was the ruler of Rampur, which merged into the Union of India as a result of Merger Agreement signed by the Nawab on 15.05.1949. As per the terms of merger agreement, the Nawab was entitled to full ownership, use and enjoyment of all private properties (as distinguished from State properties) belonging to him and he was required to furnish to the Dominion Government an inventory of such immovable properties etc. He expired on 06.03.1966 and died intestate.

The case of the plaintiff was that the properties declared by Nawab Raza Ali Khan to be his private properties in terms of the merger agreement were his private properties and all legal heirs were entitled to a share in the property as per personal laws. The Trial Court and the Allahabad High Court disagreed with this interpretation.

The issue considered by the Apex Court was whether the properties held by Nawab Raza Ali Khan would devolve on his eldest son by applying the rule of primogeniture or would be governed by Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 and devolve on all his legal heirs.

The bench comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Aniruddha Bose observed that the properties which were declared to be their personal properties had to be treated as their personal properties and could not be treated as properties attached to the Gaddi. While holding thus, the bench observed:

One thing which is clear is that the rulers enjoyed right to privy purses, private properties and privileges only because of the Constitution and in other respects they were ordinary citizens. It was urged that since the rights were guaranteed under the Constitution, the rule of primogeniture would apply. We find no force in this contention because, as already discussed above, in Article 362 reference is made only to the personal rights, privileges and dignities of the ruler of an Indian State and, in our view, rights would not include succession to personal properties.

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