Ahmedabad: Monk seeks to inherit dead guru's shares

AHMEDABAD: A Swaminarayan monk has approached a city civil court to inherit the shares that his guru had left behind when he passed away 14 years ago without making a will.
According to case details, Vasudevanandji, a resident of Shree Swaminarayan Temple at Rambaug near Kankaria, approached the court last year stating that his guru Ramkrushnanandji Shantgunanandji Brahmchari passed away in July 2009. He died without making any will and not conferring the shares he was holding on anybody.
The monk stated in court that being the only disciple of Brahmchari, he was the legal heir of his guru and hence entitled to the shares that his late master used to possess on account of the latter's investment in stocks.
The applicant monk requested the court for a certificate under section 372 of the Indian Succession Act with respect to the shares the guru was holding so that the share certificates can be transferred in his name.
As required by procedure, the court registrar ordered the applicant to publish a public notice in the form of an advertisement. He issued the public notice in a newspaper inviting objections, if any, against his claim over his deceased guru's share by being proclaimed as a legal heir. None came forward and objected to his claim.
The court noted that the original holder of shares and securities died intestate and did not make any arrangement for the applicant's benefits. He is the only disciple of the deceased guru and there is no other legal heir.
Satisfied with the authenticity of Vasudevananji's claim, the court has recently ordered its registry for issuance of a succession certificate declaring that he is the legal heir to his guru and entitled to succeed him in ownership of the shares. The certificate has been ordered to be issued upon payment of requisite court fee.