It is always advisable but NOT mandatory to fill nomination form while opening bank account. Further, it must be witnessed by one witness (in case of literate person and two witnesses for illetrate person. Without witness, the form is not legally valid
 

Thanks for information. Could you plz. provide the legal validity documents of Nomination,about witness are mandatory. RBI issued a circular on this about allahabad court case and directed RBI to have banks explain customers to have nomination when account opened. Also on March 30th 2011, RBI issued a notice to banks that the Nomination form need not be witnessed.

There is a column for the witness in the nomination form itself. As a thumb rule, please be advised that whereever there is column printed in the form itself for nomination, the nomination itself is invalid, without witness. Go a step further, nomination allows the nominee to claim the amount from the bank but the nominee does not become owner of the funds. He has to share with all the legal heirs. Further, it is doubtful whether RBIs circular, if any, will supersede legal requirements. It is always better to be on the safer side of the law, specially when you are not there and the nominee is left to fight the legal battle alone.