‭SI.

NO‬ ‭CONTENTS‬ ‭PAGES‬

‭1‬ ‭introduction‬ ‭2-5‬
‭2‬ ‭ hat‬ ‭is‬ ‭laspse,‬ ‭circumstance‬ ‭and‬
W ‭5-8‬
‭effects‬
‭3‬ ‭Joint tenancy christian and hindu law‬ ‭8-9‬
‭4‬ J‭ oint‬ ‭tenancy‬ ‭and‬ ‭tenancy-in‬ ‭-‬ ‭9-11‬
‭common‬
‭5‬ ‭Residuary legatee‬ ‭11-12‬
‭6‬ ‭Lineal descendents‬ ‭12 -13‬
‭7‬ ‭Exception to doctrine of lapse‬ ‭13 14‬
‭8‬ ‭Bibliography and webliography‬ ‭15‬
 ‭LAPSE OF LEGACY‬

‭LAPSE:‬
‭When‬ ‭a‬ ‭testamentary‬ ‭gift‬ ‭fails‬ ‭because‬ ‭the‬ ‭legatee‬‭passes‬‭away‬‭before‬
‭the‬‭testator‬‭does,‬‭either‬‭before‬‭or‬‭after‬‭the‬‭will‬‭is‬‭made,‬‭it‬‭is‬‭referred‬‭to‬
‭as‬‭a‬‭"lapse."‬‭The‬‭testator‬‭must‬‭live‬‭in‬‭order‬‭for‬‭the‬‭legatee‬‭to‬‭be‬‭entitled‬
‭to‬‭his‬‭legacy;‬‭otherwise,‬‭the‬‭legacy‬‭will‬‭not‬‭be‬‭enforceable.‬‭The‬‭testator‬
‭is‬‭free‬‭to‬‭make‬‭his‬‭will‬‭regardless‬‭of‬‭the‬‭legatees'‬‭status‬‭on‬‭the‬‭day‬‭it‬‭is‬
‭made.‬‭A‬‭legatee‬‭need‬‭only‬‭exist‬‭at‬‭the‬‭time‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator's‬‭death;‬‭they‬
‭do not have to be alive on the day of the will‬

‭WHO IS TESTATOR AND LEGATEE ?‬

‭a‬‭person‬‭who‬‭writes‬‭will‬‭is‬‭known‬‭as‬‭a‬‭testator,‬‭A‬‭beneficiary‬‭or‬‭legatee‬
‭is‬‭the‬‭individual‬‭who‬‭receives‬‭property‬‭through‬‭a‬‭will.‬‭A‬‭legatee‬‭is‬‭the‬
‭person‬ ‭named‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭will‬ ‭who‬ ‭inherits‬ ‭the‬ ‭deceased‬ ‭person's[testator]‬
‭belongings.‬

‭SEC: 105‬‭. In what case legacy lapses‬

‭(1)‬ ‭If‬ ‭the‬ ‭legatee‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭survive‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator,‬ ‭the‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭cannot‬ ‭take‬
‭effect,‬ ‭but‬ ‭shall‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭and‬ ‭form‬ ‭part‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭residue‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator's‬
‭property,‬ ‭unless‬ ‭it‬ ‭appears‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭will‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭intended‬‭that‬‭it‬
‭should‬‭go‬‭to‬‭some‬‭other‬‭person.(2)‬‭In‬‭order‬‭to‬‭entitle‬‭the‬‭representatives‬
‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭legatee‬‭to‬‭receive‬‭the‬‭legacy,‬‭it‬‭must‬‭be‬‭proved‬‭that‬‭he‬‭survived‬
‭the testator.‬
‭S.J.Lakshmi Bai v. Pothana Apparao‬
‭It‬‭was‬‭held‬‭that‬‭this‬‭section‬‭does‬‭not‬‭say‬‭or‬‭imply‬‭that‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭must‬
‭have‬‭expressly‬‭envisaged‬‭the‬‭possibility‬‭of‬‭lapse‬‭in‬‭consequence‬‭of‬‭the‬
‭legates dying during the lifetime of the testator.‬
‭Circumstances that brings lapse‬‭:‬
‭1.‬‭the death of the legatee in the lifetime of the‬‭testator.‬
‭2.predecease‬ ‭of‬ ‭beneficiary‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator,‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭or‬ ‭refusal‬ ‭of‬
‭legacy‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭beneficiary,‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭lapses‬ ‭and‬ ‭intestate‬ ‭succession‬
‭operates‬
‭Example:‬ ‭Even‬ ‭when‬ ‭the‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭is‬ ‭given‬ ‭to‬ ‭A‬ ‭and‬ ‭his‬ ‭executors,‬
‭administrators‬‭and‬‭assigns,‬‭if‬‭the‬‭legatee‬‭A‬‭dies‬‭before‬‭the‬‭testator,‬‭the‬
‭legacy‬ ‭lapses.‬ ‭When‬ ‭the‬ ‭circumstances‬ ‭make‬ ‭it‬ ‭uncertain‬ ‭whether‬ ‭the‬
‭testator or the beneficiary died first, the legacy will lapse‬
‭3. The doctrine of lapse applies to contingent legacies‬
‭Prevention of lapse :‬
‭In‬‭order‬‭to‬‭prevent‬‭a‬‭lapse‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭must‬
‭do‬ ‭two‬ ‭things:‬ ‭he‬ ‭must‬ ‭in‬ ‭clear‬ ‭words‬ ‭exclude‬ ‭the‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭and‬ ‭he‬ ‭must‬
‭clearly indicate who should take in case the legatee died in his lifetime‬
‭In the following cases the legacy will not lapse:‬
‭❖‬‭If there is an express intention to the contrary,‬
‭where‬‭it‬‭is‬‭clear‬‭that‬‭in‬‭the‬‭event‬‭of‬‭the‬‭legatee‬‭predeceasing‬‭the‬‭testator,‬
‭an‬‭alternative‬‭bequest‬‭is‬‭intended‬‭to‬‭be‬‭substituted‬‭as‬‭under‬‭sec.96.‬‭The‬
‭doctrine‬ ‭of‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭does‬‭not‬‭apply,‬‭even‬‭though‬‭the‬‭legatees‬‭predeceased‬
‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭when‬ ‭the‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭is‬ ‭given‬ ‭with‬ ‭the‬ ‭intention‬ ‭of‬
‭discharging‬‭a‬‭moral‬‭obligation,‬‭whether‬‭legally‬‭binding‬‭or‬‭not,‬‭which‬‭is‬
‭recognized by the testator and is existing at his death‬

‭❖‬ ‭In‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭legatee‬ ‭for‬‭life‬‭with‬‭remainder‬‭to‬‭another‬

‭legatee‬‭:‬
‭if‬‭the‬‭legatee‬‭dies‬‭before‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭,‬‭the‬‭remainder‬‭takes‬‭effect‬‭upon‬
‭the‬‭death‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator.‬‭So,‬‭if‬‭a‬‭legacy‬‭be‬‭given‬‭to‬‭A‬‭after‬‭completing‬
‭his‬‭majority‬ ‭with‬‭a‬‭limitation‬‭over‬‭to‬‭B,‬‭If‬‭A‬‭died‬‭before‬‭completing‬‭his‬
‭majority‬‭,‬‭before‬‭the‬‭testator‬ ‭,‬‭the‬‭legacy‬‭falling‬‭to‬‭B‬‭does‬‭no‬‭lapse‬‭will‬
‭take‬ ‭effect.‬ ‭But‬ ‭the‬ ‭rule‬ ‭is‬ ‭different‬ ‭when‬ ‭A‬ ‭dies‬ ‭after‬ ‭attending‬ ‭his‬
‭majority.‬‭In‬‭such‬‭a‬‭case‬‭every‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭lapses,‬‭i.e.‬‭the‬‭legacy‬
‭to A lapses and the legacy B also does not take effect‬

‭❖‬‭If‬‭a‬‭legacy‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭two‬‭persons‬‭jointly‬‭and‬‭one‬‭dies‬‭before‬‭the‬
‭test the other takes the whole.(s.106)‬
‭❖‬‭The‬‭doctrine‬‭of‬‭survivorship‬‭prevents‬‭lapse,‬‭but‬‭not‬‭if‬‭the‬‭gift‬‭is‬‭to‬
‭persons as tenants-in-common.(s.107)‬
 ‭❖‬ ‭In‬ ‭the‬ ‭absence‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬ ‭contrary‬‭intention‬‭in‬‭the‬‭will,‬‭a‬‭bequest‬‭to‬‭a‬
‭child‬‭or‬‭other‬‭lineal‬‭descendant‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭does‬‭not‬‭lapse‬‭if‬‭the‬
‭child of another lineal descendant dies before the testator.(s.109)‬
‭❖‬‭Where‬ ‭the‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭is‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬‭trustee‬‭for‬‭another‬‭and‬‭the‬‭trustee‬‭dies‬
‭before the testator, the bequest does not lapse.(s.110)‬
‭❖‬‭Where the bequest is to a class.(s.111)‬

‭Effects of lapse:‬

‭Unless‬‭a‬‭contrary‬‭intention‬‭appears‬‭in‬‭the‬‭will,‬‭a‬‭lapsed‬‭legacy‬‭will‬‭form‬
‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭residue‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator's‬‭property‬‭and‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭included‬‭in‬‭the‬
‭residuary‬‭bequest.‬‭The‬‭residue‬‭referred‬‭to‬‭in‬‭this‬‭section‬‭corresponds‬‭to‬
‭the‬ ‭residue‬ ‭referred‬ ‭to‬ ‭in‬ ‭sec25‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭English‬ ‭Wills‬ ‭Act,‬ ‭1837,‬ ‭and‬
‭means‬‭the‬‭general‬‭universal‬‭residue.‬‭But‬‭if‬‭the‬‭will‬‭contains‬‭no‬‭residuary‬
‭clauses,‬‭the‬‭lapsed‬‭legacy‬‭will‬‭go‬‭to‬‭the‬‭heirs‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭as‬‭if‬‭he‬‭had‬
‭died intestate. (sec 107-108).‬

‭No‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭if‬ ‭beneficiary‬ ‭in‬ ‭a‬ ‭mutual‬ ‭will‬ ‭dies‬ ‭after‬ ‭the‬ ‭death‬ ‭of‬ ‭one‬
‭testator:What‬‭really‬‭makes‬‭the‬‭survivor's‬‭will‬‭irrevocable‬‭in‬‭equity‬‭is‬‭the‬
‭first‬‭testator's‬‭death‬‭without‬‭canceling‬‭his‬‭own‬‭will.‬‭So‬‭on‬‭the‬‭grounds‬‭of‬
‭lapse,‬ ‭a‬ ‭legatee‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭mutual‬ ‭wills‬ ‭who‬ ‭survives‬ ‭the‬ ‭first‬ ‭testator‬ ‭but‬
‭before the second loses his legacy.‬
‭SEC:106‬‭.Legacy‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭if‬ ‭one‬ ‭or‬ ‭two‬ ‭joint‬ ‭legatees‬ ‭before‬
‭testator‬‭If‬‭a‬‭legacy‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭two‬‭persons‬‭jointly,‬‭and‬‭one‬‭of‬‭them‬
‭dies before the testator, the other legatee takes the whole‬‭:‬

‭SCOPE:‬ ‭Section‬ ‭106‬ ‭deals‬ ‭with‬ ‭a‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭to‬ ‭persons‬ ‭as‬ ‭joint‬ ‭tenants.‬
‭The essential characteristics of a joint tenancy are:‬
‭1) Unity of possession;‬
‭2)‬ ‭Unity‬ ‭of‬ ‭interest‬ ‭3)‬ ‭Unity‬ ‭of‬ ‭title;‬ ‭and‬ ‭4)‬ ‭Unity‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭time‬ ‭of‬
‭commencement of title‬
‭Joint‬‭tenancy‬‭:‬‭Where‬‭a‬‭legacy‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭several‬‭persons‬‭concurrently,‬
‭questions‬ ‭arise‬ ‭whether‬ ‭these‬ ‭persons‬ ‭take‬ ‭as‬ ‭joint‬ ‭tenants‬ ‭or‬
‭tenants-in-common.‬ ‭This‬ ‭will‬ ‭depend‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭context‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭will.‬ ‭A‬
‭simple‬ ‭legacy‬‭to‬‭A‬‭and‬‭B‬‭will‬‭prima‬‭facie‬‭be‬‭to‬‭the‬‭as‬‭joint‬‭tenants‬‭so‬
‭that‬‭if‬‭A‬‭dies‬‭before‬‭the‬‭testator,‬‭B‬‭will‬‭take‬‭the‬‭whole‬‭legacy.‬‭Although‬
‭the‬‭section‬‭speaks‬‭of‬‭a‬‭legacy‬‭to‬‭two‬‭persons,‬‭the‬‭same‬‭rule‬‭applies‬‭if‬‭the‬
‭bequest‬‭is‬‭to‬‭several‬‭persons,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭share‬‭of‬‭anyone‬‭that‬‭dies‬‭will‬‭not‬
‭lapse but will go to the survivor.‬

‭Christian:‬

‭Christians‬‭are‬‭governed‬‭by‬‭this‬‭Act‬‭and‬‭in‬‭the‬‭matter‬‭of‬‭constitution‬‭of‬
‭the‬‭will‬‭of‬‭a‬‭christian‬‭if‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭is‬‭made‬‭simply‬‭to‬‭two‬‭persons‬‭then‬
‭the‬ ‭principles‬ ‭of‬ ‭english‬ ‭law‬ ‭as‬ ‭propounded‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭section‬ ‭they‬ ‭could‬
‭take‬‭as‬‭joint‬‭tenants‬‭and‬‭on‬‭the‬‭death‬‭of‬‭one,‬‭the‬‭survivor‬‭would‬‭take‬‭the‬
‭whole‬ ‭property.‬ ‭In‬ ‭the‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬ ‭christians,‬ ‭a‬ ‭joint‬ ‭tenancy‬ ‭is‬ ‭presumed‬
‭rather than the tenancy in common.‬

‭Joint tenancy as applicable to Hindus:‬

‭Although‬ ‭this‬ ‭section‬ ‭applies‬ ‭to‬ ‭Hindus,‬ ‭in‬ ‭construing‬ ‭the‬ ‭wills‬ ‭of‬
‭Hindus‬ ‭the‬ ‭rule‬ ‭laiddown‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭section‬ ‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭applied‬ ‭with‬ ‭great‬
‭care‬

‭❖‬‭property‬‭is‬‭given‬‭without‬‭specification‬‭of‬‭the‬‭individual‬‭interests‬‭to‬
‭persons who are members of a joint Hindu Family‬
‭❖‬‭it does notnecessarily follow that they take as joint tenants.‬
‭❖‬‭if‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭is‬‭to‬‭persons‬‭whoconstitute‬‭such‬‭a‬‭family,‬‭the‬‭prima‬
‭facie‬ ‭view‬ ‭is‬ ‭that‬ ‭they‬ ‭take‬ ‭severally‬ ‭and‬ ‭that‬‭thosewho‬‭argue‬‭in‬
‭favor of joint tenants‬
‭❖‬ ‭they‬ ‭must‬ ‭have‬‭to‬‭show‬‭some‬‭clear‬‭foundation‬‭for‬‭it‬‭in‬‭terms‬‭of‬
‭the will‬
‭❖‬ ‭If‬‭on‬‭the‬‭other‬‭hand‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭is‬‭to‬‭persons‬‭who‬‭are‬‭incapable‬‭of‬
‭forming‬ ‭Hindu‬ ‭joint‬ ‭family‬ ‭they‬ ‭generally‬ ‭take‬ ‭as‬ ‭tenants‬ ‭in‬
‭common‬

‭The‬ ‭Hindu‬ ‭deities‬ ‭will‬ ‭accept‬ ‭an‬ ‭equal‬ ‭amount‬ ‭of‬ ‭hares‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭gift,‬
‭provided‬ ‭that‬ ‭no‬ ‭precise‬ ‭share‬ ‭is‬ ‭specified.‬ ‭In‬ ‭this‬ ‭instance,‬ ‭Harris‬ ‭CJ‬
‭notes‬‭that‬‭even‬‭if‬‭the‬‭Succession‬‭Act‬‭had‬‭established‬‭a‬‭shared‬‭tenancy,‬‭a‬
‭Hindu‬ ‭will‬ ‭would‬ ‭not‬ ‭have‬ ‭done‬ ‭so.‬ ‭Just‬ ‭what‬ ‭happens‬ ‭if‬ ‭one‬ ‭or‬ ‭two‬
‭people‬ ‭who‬ ‭were‬ ‭jointly‬ ‭named‬ ‭legateesdies‬ ‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭is‬
‭outlined‬‭in‬‭Section‬‭106.‬‭A‬‭shared‬‭tenancy‬‭is‬‭not‬‭created‬‭in‬‭any‬‭way‬‭by‬
‭this‬‭section.‬‭The‬‭phrase‬‭in‬‭Section‬‭106‬‭to‬‭"two‬‭persons‬‭jointly"‬‭refers‬‭to‬
‭a‬‭gift‬‭to‬‭more‬‭than‬‭simply‬‭the‬‭two‬‭individuals‬‭in‬‭the‬‭arithmetical‬‭sense.‬
‭Section‬ ‭106‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭devolutionary‬ ‭clause‬ ‭rather‬ ‭than‬ ‭a‬ ‭construction‬ ‭rule.‬
‭While Hindu law does not recognise shared tenancy.‬

‭SEC:107.‬‭Effect‬‭of‬‭words‬‭showing‬‭testator's‬‭intention‬‭to‬‭give‬‭distinct‬
‭shares:‬‭if‬‭a‬‭legacy‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭legatees‬‭in‬‭words‬‭which‬‭show‬‭that‬‭the‬
‭testator‬ ‭intended‬ ‭to‬ ‭give‬ ‭them‬ ‭the‬ ‭distinct‬ ‭shares‬ ‭of‬ ‭it,‬‭then‬‭if‬‭any‬
‭legatee‬ ‭dies‬ ‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭,so‬ ‭much‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭as‬ ‭was‬
‭intended for him shall fall into the residue of the testator's property‬

‭This‬ ‭section‬ ‭lays‬ ‭down‬ ‭the‬‭rule‬‭that‬‭in‬‭the‬‭case‬‭of‬‭a‬‭bequest‬‭to‬‭two‬‭or‬

‭more‬‭persons‬‭astenants‬‭in‬‭common,‬‭if‬‭one‬‭of‬‭the‬‭legatee‬‭dies‬‭before‬‭the‬
‭testator‬ ‭,his‬ ‭share‬ ‭will‬ ‭not‬ ‭go‬ ‭tothe‬ ‭survivor‬ ‭as‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭case‬ ‭of‬ ‭joint‬
‭tenancy‬‭but‬‭will‬‭fall‬‭into‬‭the‬‭residue‬‭if‬‭there‬‭is‬‭a‬‭residuary‬‭clause‬‭in‬‭the‬
‭will.‬‭If‬‭there‬‭is‬‭no‬‭such‬‭residuary‬‭clause‬‭or‬‭where,‬‭the‬‭request‬‭isto‬‭two‬‭or‬
‭more‬ ‭persons‬ ‭as‬ ‭residuary‬ ‭legatees‬ ‭then‬ ‭the‬ ‭share‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭person‬ ‭who‬
‭diesbefore‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭will‬‭go‬‭as‬‭indisposed‬‭and‬‭will‬‭be‬‭distributed‬‭as‬‭on‬
‭intestacy.‬‭There‬‭is‬‭however‬‭one‬‭exception‬‭to‬‭this‬‭rule‬‭under‬‭section‬‭111‬
‭of‬‭the‬‭Indian‬‭Succession‬‭Act‬‭This‬‭section‬‭favours‬‭tenancy-‬‭in-‬‭common‬
‭against joint tenancy‬
‭distinction between a joint tenancy and tenancy-in-common:‬
‭In‬‭joint‬‭tenancy‬‭there‬‭is‬‭a‬‭unity‬‭of‬‭possession,‬‭unity‬‭of‬‭interest,‬‭unity‬‭of‬
‭title‬ ‭and‬ ‭unity‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭time‬ ‭of‬ ‭commencement‬ ‭of‬ ‭such‬ ‭title.‬ ‭Between‬ ‭a‬
‭joint‬‭tenancy‬‭and‬‭a‬‭tenancy-in-‬‭common‬‭only‬‭similarity‬‭that‬‭exists‬‭is‬‭the‬
‭unity‬‭of‬‭possession.‬‭Except‬‭that,‬‭a‬‭tenant-in-common‬‭is‬‭to‬‭his‬‭undivided‬
‭share‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬‭position‬‭of‬‭the‬‭owner‬‭of‬‭that‬‭share.‬‭A‬‭tenancy-in-common‬
‭may‬‭also‬‭be‬‭created‬‭by‬‭the‬‭severance‬‭of‬‭joint‬‭tenancy,‬‭as‬‭for‬‭instance,‬‭by‬
‭alienation by one of the joint tenants‬

‭Where‬ ‭a‬ ‭Hindu‬ ‭testator‬ ‭makes‬ ‭a‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭to‬ ‭persons‬ ‭constituting‬ ‭of‬ ‭a‬
‭joint‬ ‭Hindu‬ ‭family,‬ ‭the‬ ‭view‬ ‭is‬ ‭that‬ ‭they‬ ‭take‬ ‭severally‬ ‭and‬ ‭that‬ ‭those‬
‭who‬‭argue‬‭in‬‭favour‬‭of‬‭joint‬‭tenancy‬‭have‬‭to‬‭show‬‭some‬‭clear‬‭foundation‬
‭for‬‭it‬‭in‬‭the‬‭terms‬‭of‬‭will.‬‭If‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭is‬‭to‬‭persons‬‭who‬‭are‬‭incapable‬
‭of‬‭forming‬‭a‬‭joint‬‭Hindu‬‭family,‬‭the‬‭inference‬‭is‬‭stronger‬‭that‬‭they‬‭take‬
‭as tenants-in-common‬

‭Tenancy in common with survivorship:‬

‭A‬‭rule‬‭was‬‭established‬‭in‬‭the‬‭case‬‭of‬‭Cripps‬‭vs‬‭Wolcott‬‭which‬‭said‬‭that‬
‭there‬‭is‬‭a‬‭gift‬‭total‬‭number‬‭of‬‭persons‬‭and‬‭the‬‭survivors‬‭and‬‭survivors‬‭of‬
‭them‬‭will‬‭take‬‭the‬‭property‬‭on‬‭basis‬‭of‬‭express‬‭intention‬‭of‬‭testator‬‭in‬‭the‬
‭period of distribution‬
‭SEC:108‬ ‭.When‬ ‭lapsed‬ ‭share‬ ‭goes‬ ‭as‬ ‭indisposed‬ ‭of:‬ ‭where‬‭a‬‭share‬
‭which‬‭lapses‬‭is‬‭a‬‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭general‬‭residue‬‭bequeathed‬‭by‬‭the‬‭will,‬
‭that share shall go as indisposed of.‬

‭Under‬ ‭Section‬ ‭103,a‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭that‬ ‭lapses‬ ‭will‬ ‭form‬ ‭a‬ ‭part‬‭of‬‭the‬‭residue‬
‭and‬ ‭will‬ ‭go‬ ‭to‬‭the‬‭residuary‬‭legatee.‬‭This‬‭section‬‭comes‬‭into‬‭operation‬
‭when‬ ‭the‬ ‭residue‬ ‭itself‬ ‭lapses‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭death‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭residuary‬ ‭legatee‬
‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭or‬ ‭in‬ ‭any‬ ‭other‬ ‭manner.‬ ‭Where‬ ‭the‬ ‭residue‬ ‭is‬
‭indisposed‬‭of‬‭or‬‭lapses,‬‭it‬‭will‬‭go‬‭as‬‭on‬‭intestacy‬‭and‬‭be‬‭divided‬‭amongst‬
‭the‬‭next-of-kin‬‭of‬‭the‬‭deceased‬‭and‬‭all‬‭the‬‭next-of-kin‬‭will‬‭share‬‭in‬‭spite‬
‭of‬ ‭any‬ ‭one‬ ‭being‬ ‭expressly‬ ‭excluded‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭will.‬ ‭If‬ ‭the‬ ‭residue‬ ‭that‬
‭lapses‬‭is‬‭a‬‭particular‬‭residue,‬‭it‬‭will‬‭fall‬‭into‬‭the‬‭general‬‭residue.‬‭When‬
‭there‬ ‭are‬‭several‬‭residuary‬‭legatees‬‭and‬‭the‬‭residue‬‭is‬‭given‬‭to‬‭them‬‭as‬
‭tenants-in-common‬ ‭the‬ ‭share‬ ‭of‬ ‭any‬ ‭one,‬ ‭who‬ ‭dies‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‟s‬
‭lifetime,‬ ‭will‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭and‬ ‭will‬ ‭not‬ ‭accrue‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭augmentation‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭remaining‬‭parts‬‭as‬‭a‬‭residue‬‭of‬‭a‬‭residue‬‭but‬‭will‬‭devolve‬‭as‬‭indisposed‬
‭of.If‬ ‭the‬ ‭residue‬ ‭is‬ ‭indisposed‬ ‭of,‬ ‭it‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬ ‭divided‬ ‭amongst‬ ‭all‬ ‭the‬
‭next-of-kin‬ ‭of‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭as‬‭on‬‭intestacy,‬‭notwithstanding‬‭the‬‭fact‬‭that‬
‭the‬‭testator‬‭has‬‭by‬‭his‬‭will‬‭directed‬‭that‬‭one‬‭of‬‭them‬‭shall‬‭take‬‭no‬‭share‬
‭in his property.‬

‭In‬ ‭English‬ ‭law‬ ‭however‬ ‭the‬ ‭rule‬ ‭is‬ ‭thatwhere‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭in‬ ‭his‬ ‭will‬
‭makes‬ ‭a‬ ‭declaration‬ ‭excluding‬ ‭one‬ ‭or‬ ‭some‬ ‭only‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭next-of-kin‬ ‭in‬
‭clear‬ ‭language,‬ ‭it‬ ‭would‬ ‭be‬ ‭held‬ ‭valid.This‬ ‭section‬ ‭is‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬
‭English‬ ‭rule‬ ‭in‬ ‭Skrymsher‬ ‭vs‬ ‭NorthCote‬ ‭which‬ ‭was‬ ‭followed‬ ‭in‬
‭Vedabala‬ ‭Debi‬ ‭vs‬ ‭The‬ ‭official‬ ‭Trustee‬ ‭of‬ ‭Bengal‬ ‭where‬ ‭residue‬ ‭was‬
‭given‬‭on‬‭trust‬‭which‬‭failed‬‭on‬‭the‬‭ground‬‭of‬‭uncertainty‬‭and‬‭it‬‭was‬‭held‬
‭that‬‭there‬‭was‬‭resulting‬‭trust‬‭of‬‭the‬‭residue‬‭to‬‭the‬‭heirs‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testators‬‭as‬
‭on‬‭intestacy.‬‭Modern‬‭decisions‬‭however‬‭lay‬‭down‬‭a‬‭different‬‭rule.‬‭They‬
‭state‬‭that‬‭if‬‭there‬‭is‬‭in‬‭the‬‭will‬‭an‬‭intention‬‭to‬‭the‬‭contrary,‬‭that‬‭intention‬
‭must be given effect‬

‭SEC:109.‬‭When‬‭bequest‬‭to‬‭testator's‬‭child‬‭or‬‭lineal‬‭descendant‬‭does‬
‭not lapse on his death in testator's lifetime.‬

‭Where‬‭a‬‭bequest‬‭has‬‭been‬‭made‬‭to‬‭any‬‭child‬‭or‬‭other‬‭lineal‬‭descendant‬
‭of‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭and‬‭the‬‭legatee‬‭dies‬‭during‬‭lifetime‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭but‬‭any‬
‭lineal‬‭descendant‬‭of‬‭his‬‭survives‬‭the‬‭testator,‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭shall‬‭not‬‭lapse,‬
‭but‬ ‭shall‬ ‭take‬ ‭effect‬ ‭as‬ ‭if‬ ‭the‬ ‭death‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭legatee‬ ‭had‬ ‭happened‬
‭immediately‬ ‭after‬ ‭the‬‭death‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator,unless‬‭the‬‭contrary‬‭intention‬
‭appears by the will, this section is an exception to the doctrine of lapse.‬

‭To‬ ‭prevent‬ ‭the‬ ‭lapse‬ ‭under‬ ‭this‬ ‭section,‬ ‭three‬ ‭conditions‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬
‭fulfilled.‬

‭1.‬ ‭The‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬ ‭to‬ ‭any‬ ‭child‬ ‭or‬ ‭other‬ ‭lineal‬ ‭descendant‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬
‭testator.‬

‭2.The‬ ‭child‬‭or‬‭lineal‬‭descendant‬‭dies‬‭during‬‭lifetime‬‭of‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭but‬
‭any‬‭lineal‬‭descendant‬‭of‬‭his‬‭alives‬‭the‬‭testator‬‭.The‬‭person‬‭entitled‬‭to‬‭the‬
‭bequest‬‭must‬‭be‬‭ascertained‬‭as‬‭to‬‭the‬‭date‬‭of‬‭the‬‭death‬‭of‬‭the‬‭child‬‭and‬
‭not as at the date of the death of the testator‬

‭3.There should be contrary intention in the will.‬

‭unless‬ ‭a‬ ‭contrary‬ ‭intention‬ ‭appears‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭will‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬ ‭construed‬ ‭to‬
‭mean‬‭that‬‭there‬‭must‬‭be‬‭clear‬‭and‬‭unambiguous‬‭intention‬‭by‬‭the‬‭testator‬
‭in‬‭the‬‭will‬‭itself‬‭before‬‭a‬‭bequest‬‭in‬‭favor‬‭of‬‭a‬‭lineal‬‭descendant,‬‭should‬
‭he‬ ‭die‬ ‭before‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭can‬ ‭be‬ ‭defeated.‬ ‭The‬ ‭expression‬ ‭means‬ ‭that‬
‭there‬ ‭must‬ ‭be‬ ‭clear,‬ ‭unambiguous‬ ‭intention‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭will‬
‭itself‬‭before‬‭the‬‭bequest‬‭in‬‭the‬‭favor‬‭of‬‭a‬‭child‬‭or‬‭lineal‬‭descendant‬‭can‬
‭be defeated.‬
‭Krishna veni vs Rajagopal‬

‭the‬ ‭court‬ ‭held‬ ‭that‬ ‭none‬ ‭other‬ ‭than‬ ‭legatees‬‭take‬‭her‬‭share‬‭and‬‭it‬‭is‬‭an‬

‭affirmation that legatee has exclusive rights‬

‭The‬ ‭word‬ ‭“child”‬ ‭used‬ ‭in‬ ‭this‬ ‭section‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭include‬ ‭an‬ ‭illegitimate‬
‭child but includes an adopted child in case of Hindus‬

‭This‬‭section‬‭33‬‭of‬‭the‬‭English‬‭wills‬‭Act‬‭1837,‬‭which‬‭is‬‭now‬‭substituted‬
‭by‬‭the‬‭sec‬‭19‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Administration‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Justice‬‭Act,1982‬‭To‬‭prevent‬
‭lapse‬ ‭under‬ ‭this‬ ‭section,‬ ‭it‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭necessary‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭lineal‬ ‭descendant‬
‭who‬ ‭is‬ ‭alive‬ ‭at‬ ‭the‬ ‭death‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭testator,‬ ‭should‬ ‭be‬ ‭the‬ ‭same‬ ‭lineal‬
‭descendant‬‭who‬‭was‬‭alive‬‭at‬‭the‬‭death‬‭of‬‭the‬‭legatee.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭sufficient‬‭that‬
‭any lineal descendant is alive.‬

‭SEC:110‬‭.Bequest‬‭to‬‭A‬‭for‬‭benefit‬‭of‬‭B‬‭does‬‭not‬‭lapse‬‭by‬‭A’s‬‭death:‬
‭Where‬ ‭a‬ ‭bequest‬ ‭is‬ ‭made‬ ‭to‬ ‭one‬ ‭person‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭benefit‬ ‭of‬‭another‬
‭,the‬‭legacy‬‭does‬‭not‬‭lapse‬‭by‬‭the‬‭death‬‭,in‬‭the‬‭testator's‬‭lifetime,‬‭of‬
‭the person to whom the bequest is made.‬

‭This‬‭section‬‭is‬‭another‬‭exception‬‭to‬‭the‬‭doctrine‬‭of‬‭lapse.‬‭If‬‭the‬‭property‬
‭is‬‭bequeathed‬‭to‬‭A‬‭in‬‭trustee‬‭for‬‭B,‬‭the‬‭beneficial‬‭interest‬‭of‬‭B‬‭will‬‭not‬
‭lapse‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭death‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭trustee[A]‬ ‭during‬ ‭lifetime‬ ‭of‬‭the‬‭testator.The‬
‭testator‬ ‭may‬ ‭give‬ ‭a‬ ‭beneficiary‬ ‭such‬ ‭rights‬‭to‬‭secure‬‭his‬‭legacy‬‭as‬‭this‬
‭law‬ ‭allows.Thus‬ ‭a‬ ‭legacy‬ ‭may‬ ‭be‬ ‭charged‬ ‭upon‬ ‭a‬ ‭specific‬‭land‬‭and‬‭in‬
‭addition,‬ ‭the‬ ‭legatee‬ ‭may‬ ‭be‬ ‭given‬ ‭a‬ ‭right‬ ‭of‬ ‭entry‬ ‭upon‬ ‭the‬ ‭land‬ ‭to‬
‭enforce the payment of legacy.‬

‭example:‬‭there‬‭is‬‭a‬‭gift‬‭to‬‭A‬‭charged‬‭with‬‭a‬‭sum‬‭payable‬‭to‬‭B,the‬‭legacy‬
‭to B does not lapse by the death of A, before the testator.‬
‭BIBLIOGRAPHY & WEBLIOGRAPHY :‬

‭❖‬‭Indian Succession Act by paruck‬

‭❖‬‭https://supremetoda‬‭y‬
‭❖‬‭https://www.scribd.com‬
‭❖‬‭https://indiankanoon.org/‬