The Sindh High Court has temporarily prohibited the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) from charging fees for inheritance or succession certificates.
This action was taken during a hearing of a petition challenging the fees imposed by NADRA for these certificates. The court has asked for responses from all relevant parties, including the deputy attorney general and assistant advocate general.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that NADRA charges fees even when requests for inheritance or succession certificates are denied, which goes against NADRA’s own regulations.
These regulations stipulate that fees should only be collected when a service is actually provided, and a rejected request does not constitute a service.
The lawyer also pointed out that inheritance certificates are vital for property distribution among legal heirs as per Islamic law, and the current fee of Rs 22,000 is considered excessive.
In response, the court has ordered NADRA to cease charging fees for inheritance and succession certificates, though fees for other services like identity cards will continue.
The court also raised questions about whether these fees should be related to property ownership and whether it is appropriate for the state to charge for such certificates. Further clarifications are expected by the September 29 deadline.
