KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has issued notices to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and others on a petition against charging a hefty fee for issuance of a succession certificate / letter of administration.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito noted that prima facie, the Rs22,000 fees/charges in question was not justified.

It restrained Nadra officials from charging any fee for succession certificates / letter of administration except a formal fee as required for the issuance of computerised national identity cards, family registration certificates and others.

The lawyer for the petitioner submitted that Nadra was charging fees even in cases where succession certificate and letter of administration were declined by its officials.

The counsel stated that Section 5(2)(h) of The Nadra Ordinance 2000 did not authorise the authority to charge fees in such cases but only in cases where some “services” were provided by them and declining a certificate was no service.

The bench noted that issuance of succession certificate and letter of administration were sought by legal heirs of a deceased to decide the distribution of the property left by the deceased (tarka) as per Shariah law.

“Prima facie, fees of Rs22,000 is not justified that amounts deduction from tarka which only legal heirs can, thus present petition related to the issue of public importance,” the court order said.

“Hence issue notice to the respondents, DAG as well as AG Sindh for 26.09.2024. Meanwhile Nadra officials shall not charge any fee on letter of administration and succession certificate except formal fee as required on issuance of CNIC, FRA and other certificates,” it concluded.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2024