The Supreme Court has referred a long-pending property dispute involving the petitioner and the development firm M/s. Orange Avenues to mediation, appointing former Supreme Court judge Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as mediator, while directing the parties to maintain the status quo over the disputed property.
A Bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Vijay Bishnoi passed the order while hearing special leave petitions arising out of multiple orders of the Telangana High Court. The dispute involves competing claims between the petitioner-brother and his sisters, with a private developer also arrayed as a respondent.
After condoning the delay in filing the petitions, the Court noted that the matter represents a “long drawn legal battle” between family members. Though attempts at amicable settlement had been made earlier, the Bench was informed that those efforts had failed. Nevertheless, the Court expressed the view that continued litigation would only prolong the dispute.
“We are still of the firm view that the parties should sit, talk and reach an equitable settlement; otherwise, this is going to be a long drawn legal proceeding,” the Bench observed.
Accordingly, the Court appointed Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia as mediator to facilitate discussions between the parties. It directed that the mediator’s fees and related modalities be finalised in consultation with the parties, and asked both sides to approach the mediator at the earliest. The Registry was also directed to formally communicate the order to the mediator.
The Court clarified that once the mediator’s report is placed on record, it would proceed to hear the matter on the merits. In the meantime, notice was issued to the respondents.
Appearances
Petitioner- Mr. Neeraj Kishan Kaul, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nina Nariman, Adv. Mr. Jayant Bhatt, Adv. Mr. B. Shravanth Shanker, AOR Mr. Neeli Rishi Kumar, Adv. Mrs. Prerna Robin, Adv. Ms. Grahita Agarwal, Adv. Ms. Ira Mahajan, Adv. Mr. Kumar Saumitr,, Adv. Mr. Varad Kolhe, Adv. Mr. Udit Sidhra, Adv. Ms. Padmja Mishra, Adv. Mr. Svarit Uniyal Mishra, Adv.
Mr. Navin Pahwa, Sr. Adv. Mr. Sridhar Potaraju, Sr. Adv. Mr. Abid Ali Beeran P, AOR Mr. Sarath S Janardanan, Adv. Mr. Saswat Adhyapak, Adv. Ms. Namita Kumari, Adv. Ms. Niharika Singh, Adv. Mr. Chamundeswari Pemmasani, Adv. Ms. Arlene Noronha, Adv.
Respondents- Mr. Devadatt Kamat, Sr. Adv. Ms. Pankhuri Bhardwaj, AOR Mr. Devadatt Kamat, Sr. Adv. Mr. Shiv Rohan Singh, Adv. Mr. Revanta Solanki, Adv. Mr. Sathvik Makunur, Adv. Mr. Ajay Desai, Adv. Mr. Arpit Linda, Adv.
