ESTATE AND ASSETS OF LATE ABDUL, GHANI: In the matter of vs NOT
This matter comes before the Sindh High Court in the estate and assets of late Abdul Ghani regarding the distribution of decretal amounts arising out of Suit No. 757 of 1988 lying deposited with the Official Assignee. The core legal question involves a dispute raised by applicant Abdul Hameed regarding whether Pervez Ghani is indeed the legal heir and son of the deceased Abdul Ghani, given his initial omission from certain affidavits. The court held that to definitively resolve the controversy surrounding paternity and entitlement to the distributed funds, scientific verification through a DNA test is necessary. The key principle laid down is that where paternity and legal heirship are seriously contested in inheritance or estate distribution proceedings, the court may direct the concerned parties to undergo a DNA test at the expense of the disputing party to ascertain the factual truth.
- Can the court order a DNA test to resolve a dispute regarding paternity and legal heirship in estate distribution proceedings?
- Who is liable to bear the expenses of a court-ordered DNA test when a party challenges the paternity of a claimed legal heir?
- How should a court proceed when the identity of a legal heir is contested after the grant of a succession certificate?
ORDER
1. ' MRS. QAISER IQBAL, .1.---In response to the order dated 21-4-2009, affidavit of the petitioner along with reply of learned Official Assignee to the notice dated 28-4-2009, issued to him, have been produced, which are taken on record.
2. ' At this juncture, the dispute only of relates to the factum whether legal heir namely Pervez Ghani son of the Deceased Abdul Ghani. After succession Miscellaneous Application was granted, the amount was distributed amongst the petitioner and two legal heirs of the deceased namely Pervez Ghani and Ms. Aaisha Ali: ' After arguing the matter at length, applicant Abdul Hameed has stressed that Pervez Ghani is not the son of the deceased Abdul Ghani as his name does not find place in the affidavit of the petitioner filed before the learned official Assignee and it was vehemently argued that the petitioner and legal heir Ms. Aaisha Ali were entitled to the money arising out of the Suit No.757 of 1988 lying deposited with the learned Official Assignee, which was directed to be distributed after grant of Succession Certificate in favour of the petitioner under the law.
3. ' The documents produced by the petitioner comprising of CNIC and B-Form were received from NADRA and got verified the same and its contents were found to be correct. However, at this juncture, much of the emphasis has been laid by the applicants that Pervez Ghani is not the son of the deceased Abdul Ghani, therefore, there are two options left with by the Court, either to direct them to resolve their dispute outside the court by virtue of modes available being Muslim through Special Oath or to send the petitioner and her son Pervez Ghani for DNA Test.
4. ' To resolve the controversy, let legal heir Pervez Ghani appear before Agha Khan Hospital, at.
5. Karachi along with petitioner for purpose of DNA Test for arriving at the conclusion whether he is the son of the petitioner. Expenses shall be paid by applicant Abdul Hameed.
6. ' Office is direct to send a copy of this order to the concerned Department of Agha Khan Hospital, at Karachi for the purpose of conducting DNA Test.
7. ' The parties are directed =to appear before concerned Department of Agha Khan Hospital, at Karachi for compliance of the above order. After above exercise is conducted, the matter is directed to be listed for hearing.
8. ' Adjourned to a date in office.
Cited by 5 cases
- Roshan Ara and others vs Abdul Karim and others 2020 CLC 1670
- Salman Akram Raja and another vs Government of Punjab through Chief 2013 PLJ SC 107, 2013 SCMR 203, 2013 PSC (Crl.) 34
- SALMAN AKRAM RAJA and anothers vs GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB through Chief Secretary, and others 2013 SCMR 203
- MS. TAHIRA ABDULLAH/ vs GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB THR. CHIEF SECRETARY, ' 2013 NLR Criminal 72
- SALMAN AKRAM RAJA and another vs GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB through Chief Secretary, Civil Secretariat, Lahore and others 2013 PLJ SC 107