#Wills and Probate

Madras HC rules that refusal to register a settlement deed based on an unprobated, unregistered will violates natural justice and is legally unsustainable in non-metropolitan areas. The court emphasized that probate is not a prerequisite for will validity outside metro jurisdictions, reinforcing procedural fairness in property registration disputes.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that Lok Adalat awards obtained through fraud or lack of jurisdiction are invalid, reinforcing judicial oversight over settlements. It also upheld the validity of wills executed abroad if they comply with Indian formalities, while affirming that public charitable trusts exist without mandatory registration. The judgment underscores writ petitions as a remedy against tainted settlements, impacting succession disputes and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.