C. Kannan v. M. Jayakumari
Background
The appellants and respondents were parties to a civil appeal arising out of a property dispute. During the pendency of the appeal before the Supreme Court, the parties amicably settled all their differences and filed a signed joint memo of compromise dated 20 July 2018.
Decision Breakdown
The Supreme Court recorded that the joint memo of compromise, signed by the parties and their respective counsel, was already on record and would form part of the judgment. It disposed of the appeals strictly in terms of that joint memo, which was also made part of the final decree.
Lesson Learnt
Where parties to a civil dispute reach a genuine settlement, the Supreme Court will readily give that settlement the force of a court decree, which is typically faster and less costly than continuing to litigate an appeal to a contested verdict.