Central Government Office demands Succession Certificate

Hello, My husband(aged 57 years) died two years back. He was working in a Central Government Office. Prior to our marriage, he started working in the same office and had my mother-in-law as a nominee. After marriage, he failed to revise the nomination and the office now demands a succession certificate for pension and other benefits such as gratuity, group insurance, GPF etc. My questions are: 1. How long will it take to obtain a succession certificate, in case my mother-in-law decides to contest me? 2. Since I am currently working in a PSU myself, is there any reason why the court might rule in her favour? On emotional grounds saying that since the widow is already working, she does not need pension? 3.The office asked my son(aged 23 years) to write an affidavit stating that he will claim no rights on his father's pensionary benefits, and surrender his part of the share to me. My son gave the affidavit thinking that this might speed up the process but we were wrong, now the % share might go in my mother-in-law's favour. Is there any way we can contest this affidavit? 4. Finally, the office has just now informed me of the requirement of the certificate, it has been two years and I have no clue what they were doing all this time. Do you suspect foul play?