Holding

In a will, when two clauses are inconsistent and cannot be reconciled, the later clause prevails over the earlier clause, reflecting the testator's last intention.

Summary

The petition challenged the Kerala High Court's interpretation of a will that contained an earlier clause granting an absolute estate to Kannan and a later clause (Schedule A) stating the same properties were to be possessed as "Tavazhi". The Supreme Court examined whether the later clause, which was inconsistent with the earlier one, should prevail. It held that, unlike other instruments, the rules of will interpretation give effect to the testator's last intention, so a later clause overrides an earlier one when the clauses are irreconcilable, as embodied in Section 88 (and Section 38) of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 and the maxim "cum duo inter se pugnantia reperiuntur in testamento ultimum ratum est". The Court found no error in the High Court's decision and dismissed the special leave petition. Consequently, the petition was dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether a later clause in a will that is inconsistent with an earlier clause prevails over the earlier clause.
Whether the Kerala High Court erred in its interpretation of the will in question.
Application of Section 88 (and Section 38) of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 and the relevant legal maxim to the case.

Legislation cited

Indian Succession Act, 1925s. 38, s. 88

Subjects

Will interpretationIndian Succession ActSection 88Section 38cum duo inter se pugnantiainconsistent clauseslater clause prevailsspecial leave petition

Judgment

KAILVELIKKAL AMBUNHI (DEAD) BY LRS. AND ORS. A
v.
H. GANESH BHANDARY

AUGUST 24, 1995

[KULDIP SINGH AND S. SAGHIR AHMAD, JJ.] B

Indian Succession Act, 1925 : Section 88.

Will-Other Instntments-Rules of interpretati01t-Difference in-In-
consistent clauses in will-Later shall prevail over earlier. C
Legal Maxims:

Maxim "cum duo inter se pugnantia reperiuntur in testamento ultimum
ratum est''-Meaning of.
D
This petition has been filed on the ground that the Kerala High
Court has not properly interpreted the will in question.

Dismissing the petition, this Court

HELD : 1. The rules of interpretation of a 'Will" are different from E
the rules which govern the interpretation of other documents say, for
example, Sale Deed or a Gift Deed or a Mortgage Deed or, for that matter,
any other instrument by which interest in immovable property is created.
While in these documents if there is any inconsistency between earlier or
the subsequent part or specific clauses inter·se contained therein, the
earlier part will prevail over the latter as against the rule of interpretation F
a~plicable to a Will under which the subsequent part, clause or portion
prevails over the earlier part. (37-A·B]

Ramachandra Shenoy and Anr. v. Mrs. Hilda B1ite and Ors., AIR
(1964) SC 1323; Navneet Lal v. Golatl and Ors., AIR (1976) SC 794 and G
Ramakrishore Lal and Anr. v. Kamalnarayan, AIR (1963) SC 890, referred
to.

2. A Will may contain several clauses and the latter clause may be
inconsistent with the earlier clause. In such a situation, the last intention
of the testator is given effect to and it is on this basis that the latter clause H
35
36 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A is fleld to prevail over the earlier clause. This is regulated by the well
known maxim "cum duo inter se pugnantia reperiuntur in testamento
ultimum ratum est" which means that if in a Will there are two inconsistent
provisions, the latter shall prevail over the earlier. This principle is also
contained in Section 88 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925. However, this
rule of interpretation can be invoked only if different clauses cannot be
B reconciled. [37-C-E; 38-A]

Hammond v. Trehame, [1938) 3 All England Reports 308 and
Rameshwar v. Balraj, AIR (1935) PC 187, referred to.

C CIVIL APPELLATE .JURISDICTION: Special Leave Petition No.
4597 of 1990.

From the .Judgment and Order dated 6.11.89 of the High Court of
Kerala in S.A. No. 750/80-G.

D K.V. Viswana than for M.T. George for the Petitioner.

S. Balakrishnan and S. Prasad for the Respondent.
) .
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
E
S. SAGHIR AHMAD, J. The only t,,rround on which the judgment of
the High Court is questioned before us is that the will in question was not
properly interpreted and that the testator having created an absolute estate
in favour of Kannan, son of his direct sister, Vellachi, it was not open to
the High Court to rely upon the subsequent recital that Schedule 'A'
F
properties which as per the earlier part of the Will had already been
bequeathed in favour of Kannan, shall be possessed and enjoyed as "Tavaz-
hi".

In interpreting the Will, the High Court has relied upon a number
G of decisions of this Court including Ramachandra Shenoy and another v.
Mrs. Hilda Elite and others, AIR (1964) SC 1323, Navneet Lal v. Gokul and
Others, AIR (1976) SC 794 and Ramak1ishorelal and Another v. Kamal-
narayan, AIR (1963) SC 890 in which the principles of interpretation, as
also the principles on the basis of which the true intention of the testator
·H can be gathered, have been set out.
K. AMBUNHI 1·. H.G. BHANDARY (S. SAGHIR AHMAD, .I.) 37

The rules of interpretation of the "Will" are different from the rules A
which govern the interpretation of other documents say, for example, a Sale
Deed or a Gift Deed or a Mortgage Deed or, for that matter, any other
instrument by which interest in immovable property is created. While in
these documents if there is any inconsistency between the earlier or the
subsequent part or specific clauses i11ter se contained therein, the earlier B
part will prevail over the latter as against the rule of interpretation ap-
plicable to a Will under which the subsequent part, clause or portion
prevails over the earlier part on the principle that in the matter of "Will",
the testator can always change his mind and create another interest in place
of the bequest already made in the earlier part or on an earlier occasion.
Undoubtedly, it is the last Will which prevails.
c
A Will may contain several clauses and the latter clause may be
inconsistent with the earlier clause. In such a situation, the last intention
of the testator is given effect to and it is on this basis that the latter clause
is held to prevail over the earlier clause. This is regulated by the well known D
' ' maxim "cum duo inter se pug11antia repe1iwztill' in testamento 11ltimum ratwn
est" which means that if in a Will ther·~ ·,re two inconsistent provisions, the
latter shall prevail over the earlier · : Har11no11d v. Treltame, (1938] 3
All England Reports 308).
E
This principle is also contained in Sc<-t.ion 38 of the Indian Succession
Act, 1925 which, together with its illustrations, provides as under :

"The last of two inconsistent Clauses prevails - where two Clauses
or gifts in a will are irreconcilable, so that they cannot possibly
stand together, the last shall prevaiL F

Illustrations

(i) The testator by the first clause of his will leaves his estate of
Ramnagar "to A'', and by the last clause to his will leaves it G
"to B and not to A''. B will have it.

(ii) If a man at the commencement of his will gives his house to
A, and at the close of it directs that his house shall be sold
and the proceeds invested for benefit of B, the latter disposi-
tion will prevail.'' H
38 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A It may, however, be pointed out that this rule o( interpretation can
be invoked only if different clauses cannot be reconciled. (See : Rameswar
v. Balraj AIR 1935 PC 187).

We do not find any infirmity in the judgment passed by the Kerala
High Court and the special leave petition which has been heard after notice
B to the respondent is hereby dismissed.

T.N.A. Petition dismissed.

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