In Brief
The Supreme Court upheld the validity of a registered Will dated 24th July, 1974, executed by M. Rajanna distributing ancestral joint family properties among his widow (Lasum Bai), son (Muthaiah), and daughter (Rajamma). The High Court had reduced Lasum Bai's entitlement from the entire suit schedule properties to only 1/4th share, treating the properties as joint family assets. The Supreme Court reversed this, holding that a registered Will carries a presumption of genuineness and the burden of proof lies on the disputing party. Since the son admitted his father's signatures on the Will and his widow's possession of the allocated properties, the trial Court's judgment granting her full title was justified and restored.
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