Mumbai: In a significant legislative development that will bring long-awaited relief to lakhs of citizens in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, the BJP Professional Cell of Mumbai has played a proactive role in facilitating an important amendment to the Indian Succession Act, 1925. Mumbai BJP Professional Cell President, CA Shailesh Ghedia, complemented Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Hon’ble Union Law Minister Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal Ji and Hon’ble Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal Ji for accepting the formal representation submitted by the Mumbai BJP Professional Cell and ensuring its translation into impactful legislative action.
The reform has been effected through Bill No. 193/2025, titled “The Repealing and Amendment Bill, 2025”, which was tabled in Parliament on 13 December 2025 and successfully passed on 16 December 2025. Among several outdated and redundant provisions repealed under this Bill, a key relief measure is the deletion of Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925—a provision that had its origins in colonial-era legal structures.
Under the now-deleted Section 213, it was mandatory for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains who owned property in the cities of Bombay, Calcutta and Madras to obtain a probate of a Will in order to establish rights as an executor or legatee. This process was widely viewed as time-consuming, procedurally complex and financially burdensome, often taking years to conclude and placing avoidable stress on families during already difficult times.
Legal experts associated with the initiative, including Senior Advocate Ramesh Desai and Senior Advocate Bharat Joshi, explained that the colonial-era provision was causing immense hardship and inconvenience to lakhs of citizens residing in these three metropolitan cities. The mandatory probate requirement often led to prolonged litigation, delays in transfer of immovable property and unnecessary legal expenses, despite the existence of a valid Will.
With the deletion of Section 213, citizens residing in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai will no longer be required to mandatorily obtain probate of a Will executed by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs or Jains. This reform will significantly simplify succession planning and enable smoother and faster transfer of immovable property in the name of legal heirs. Legal professionals believe this move will also reduce the burden on courts and align succession laws with contemporary realities and citizen-friendly governance.
The Mumbai BJP Professional Cell has been consistently engaging with professionals, legal experts and citizens to identify legacy legal bottlenecks that affect everyday life. The successful passage of this amendment underscores the Cell’s commitment to policy advocacy, constructive representation and bridging the gap between professional expertise and governance.
Confirming the development, Mr. Mahesh Bhambwani, Media Secretary, BJP Professional Cell, Mumbai, stated that this amendment reflects the government’s sensitivity to genuine public concerns raised through organised and professional platforms. He highlighted that the BJP Professional Cell will continue to work closely with experts and stakeholders to bring forward such issues that require legislative or policy-level interventions, ensuring ease of living and justice-oriented reforms for citizens across India.
