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Section 389: Surrender of superseded and invalid certificates

Indian Succession Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

Statutory Regulation
Legal Standard
Competent Court / Tribunal
Act 1925
Section 388 All 391 Sections of Indian Succession Act Section 390

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 389

Section 389 mandates the immediate surrender of superseded, revoked, or invalid succession certificates to the issuing District Court, penalizing intentional retention under the penal law.

  • Revocation or Supersession of Certificate: Applies where a succession certificate has been formally revoked under Section 383 or superseded by the grant of probate or letters of administration under Section 385.
  • Mandatory Duty of Immediate Surrender: The holder is legally obligated to surrender and deliver up the physical certificate to the District Court that granted it.
  • Penal Consequences for Default: Willful failure or refusal to surrender the certificate constitutes an intentional disobedience of lawful orders punishable under Section 175 of the Indian Penal Code (now Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • In re Jamnadas (1880) ILR 5 Bom 638: Held that the surrender of a superseded certificate is mandatory to prevent fraudulent circulation or deception of debtors, and non-compliance warrants penal action.
  • Ramchandra v. Emperor, AIR 1929 Nag 251: Affirmed that failure to surrender an invalid certificate after due service of notice constitutes an offense under the penal law punishable with fine and imprisonment.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Upon securing an order revoking a succession certificate, immediately file an application under Section 389 praying for a peremptory direction to the adverse party to deposit the physical document in court within 7 days, warning of prosecution under Section 222 BNS.

Section 388 All 391 Sections of Indian Succession Act Section 390