The Sindh High Court has temporarily stopped the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) from charging fees for issuing inheritance/succession certificates. This decision came during a hearing on a petition challenging the fees imposed by NADRA for this service. The court has requested responses from all parties involved, including the deputy attorney general and assistant advocate general.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that NADRA collects fees even when the requests for inheritance/succession certificates are rejected, which contradicts NADRA’s regulations. These regulations state that fees should only be charged when a service is provided, and rejecting a request does not qualify as a service. The lawyer also highlighted that inheritance certificates are crucial for distributing property among legal heirs according to Islamic law, and the current fee of Rs 22,000 is excessive.
As a result, the court ordered NADRA to stop charging fees for both inheritance certificates and letters of administration but allowed the continuation of fees for regular services like issuing identity cards. The court also questioned whether fees should be linked to property ownership and whether the state is justified in charging for inheritance/succession certificates. Further clarifications are expected by the September 29 deadline.
