(1) In all cases the District Judge or District Delegate may, if he thinks proper,-
(a) examine the petitioner in person, upon oath;
(b) require further evidence of the due execution of the will or the right of the petitioner to the letters of administration, as the case may be;
(c) issue citations calling upon all persons claiming to have any interest in the estate of the deceased to come and see the proceedings before the grant of probate or letters of administration.
(2) The citation shall be fixed up in some conspicuous part of the courthouse, and also in the office of the Collector of the district and otherwise published or made known in such manner as the Judge or District Delegate issuing the same may direct.
(3) Where any portion of the assets has been stated by the petitioner to be situate within the jurisdiction of a District Judge in another State, the District Judge issuing the same shall cause a copy of the citation to be sent to such other District Judge, who shall publish the same in the same manner as if it were a citation issued by himself, and shall certify such publication to the District Judge who issued the citation.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 283
Section 283 governs the issuance of citations, public notices, and inspection of property by the District Judge, establishing who has a caveatable interest entitled to notice.
Section 283 is the heart of probate notice procedure. The propounder must take out both special citations (served personally on close relatives) and general citations (published in local newspapers). If a special citation is omitted for even one Class I heir, the entire probate is vulnerable to being reopened years later under *Basanti Devi*. Practitioners must ensure comprehensive service under Section 283.