Procedure where there is no legal representative
Full Text
(1) If, in any suit, it shall appear to the Court that any party who has died during the pendency of the suit has no legal representative, the Court may, on the application of any party to the suit, proceed in the absence of a person representing the estate of the deceased person, or may by order appoint the Administrator-General, or an officer of the Court or such other person as it thinks fit to represent the estate of the deceased person for the purpose of the suit; and any judgment or order subsequently given or made in the suit shall bind the estate of the deceased person to the same extent as he would have been bound if a personal representative of the deceased person had been a party to the suit.
(2) Before making an order under this rule, the Court—
(a) may require notice of the application for the order to be given to such (if any) of the persons having an interest in the estate of the deceased person as it thinks fit; and
(b) shall ascertain that the person proposed to be appointed to represent the estate of the deceased person is willing to be so appointed and has no interest adverse to that of the deceased person.
Plain English Summary
Provides a specialized procedural remedy when a deceased litigant leaves no legal representatives or heirs: empowers the court to proceed without representation or appoint the Administrator-General / court officer to represent the estate, binding the estate to the final decree.
Key Legal Elements
- Unrepresented Estate: Applies where party dies heirless or intestate without known successors.
- Appointment of Administrator-General: Court appoints statutory or judicial officer to defend the estate.
- Consent & Conflict Check (Sub-rule 2): Appointee must consent and hold no interest adverse to deceased.
- Binding Effect on Estate: Decree conclusively binds the property and estate of the deceased.
Practical Note
Preventing Abatement of Heirless Defendants: Where a defendant dies without children or known kin (escheat), do not let the suit abate. File an application under Order XXII Rule 4A requesting the court to appoint the Administrator-General or the Court Nazir as court guardian to represent the deceased's estate.
हिंदी पाठ
(1) यदि किसी वाद में न्यायालय को यह प्रतीत होता है कि किसी ऐसे पक्षकार का जो वाद के लंबित रहने के दौरान मर गया है कोई विधिक प्रतिनिधि नहीं है, तो न्यायालय वाद के किसी पक्षकार के आवेदन पर मृत व्यक्ति की संपदा का प्रतिनिधित्व करने वाले किसी व्यक्ति की अनुपस्थिति में ही कार्यवाही कर सकेगा, अथवा महाप्रशासक (Administrator-General) या न्यायालय के किसी अधिकारी या ऐसे अन्य व्यक्ति को मृत व्यक्ति की संपदा का प्रतिनिधित्व करने हेतु नियुक्त कर सकेगा; और दिया गया निर्णय मृत व्यक्ति की संपदा पर पूर्णतः बाध्यकारी होगा।
(2) आदेश करने से पूर्व न्यायालय संपदा में हितबद्ध व्यक्तियों को सूचना देगा तथा यह सुनिश्चित करेगा कि नियुक्त किया जाने वाला व्यक्ति नियुक्त होने के लिए रजामंद है और उसका हित मृत व्यक्ति के प्रतिकूल नहीं है।