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M. Kuppaswamy (D) Tr. LRs. v. R. Vandana

Civil Appeal · 2018 INSC 295Decided 2 Apr 2018
Civil Appeal No. 3473 of 2018
Justice Kurian Joseph · Justice Navin Sinha

Background

The appellants (legal heirs of M. Kuppaswamy) challenged a 2007 judgment of the Karnataka High Court at Bangalore in a regular first appeal (RFA No.835/2000). While the appeal was pending before the Supreme Court, the parties were referred to the Bangalore Mediation Centre for an attempt at settlement.

Decision Breakdown

The Mediation Centre reported that the parties had reached a settlement, recorded in a signed Memorandum of Settlement dated 09.03.2018. A demand draft of Rs. 31,50,000 was handed over by the appellants' counsel to the respondent's counsel in terms of that settlement and duly acknowledged. The Supreme Court granted leave, took the settlement on record as part of the judgment, and disposed of the appeal in terms of the settlement, with no order as to costs.

Lesson Learnt

Long-running property disputes can often be resolved faster and more amicably through court-referred mediation than through continued litigation, and once a settlement is formally recorded with the court, it becomes legally binding and closes the case.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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