In a legal battle over spiritual renunciation and inheritance, the Bombay High Court rejected a petition by a mother and wife seeking control of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) bonds held by a Jain man who had embraced sanyas, renouncing all worldly ties.
The petitioners contended that his transition into monastic life amounted to “civil death,” thereby entitling them to his financial assets. However, the court ruled that such claims involve intricate legal and factual questions that cannot be settled through writ jurisdiction.
The dispute arose after Manoj Dedhia, formerly the head of a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), and his children renounced worldly life in November 2022 to become Jain monks. His family sought to transfer his RBI bonds, citing Jain traditions that strip monks of property rights. However, HDFC Bank refused the request, pointing to RBI regulations that prohibit bond transfers unless the holder is deceased.
Despite submitting affidavits, photographs, and ceremony records, the petitioners failed to persuade the bank or the court. The judges noted that merely adopting the lifestyle of a sanyasi does not automatically sever legal ties to one’s assets, requiring formal succession proceedings.
The court advised the petitioners to seek remedies through civil legal channels rather than writ petitions, effectively closing the case at this stage.