Mediation-led settlement agreements, when voluntarily accepted by all involved parties and submitted to the court, provide a binding basis for a formal decree, effectively concluding long-standing litigation and providing a permanent, amicable resolution to multi-party property disputes.

ORDER

1. The present civil appeals are arising out of the judgment dated 12.11.2013 passed by the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at Chandigarh in Tara Chand (D) by LRs. & Ors. v. Vidya Dhar & Anr. The dispute involved in the matter was a five decade old dispute and as many as there are 39 parties to the dispute. This Court in order to resolve the dispute amicably has referred the matter for mediation and finally a mediation report dated 09.01.2026 has been submitted reflecting that the settlement has been arrived at between 39 persons who are parties to the present litigation.

2. The parties have been allotted respective shares in the property which is subject matter of the litigation and a Settlement Agreement dated 07.01.2026 has been arrived at between the parties. The Settlement Agreement has been signed by the parties as well as by the respective counsels and the same is annexed herewith as Annexure-A. The parties to the dispute have been allotted shares as per the Settlement Agreement and each of them has voluntarily accepted the Settlement Agreement without any coercion and undue influence. In order to ensure that the individuals are placed in possession of the respective shares, copies of two Site Plans have also been filed along with I.A. No. 72997 of 2026 and the same are annexed herewith as Annexure-B.

3. In the light of the settlement arrived at between the parties, the lis has come to an end. Accordingly, the decree passed by the second Appellate Court is modified in terms of the Settlement Agreement dated 07.01.2026 and in terms of the Site Plans. The Settlement Agreement arrived at between the parties shall be binding upon the parties and all the Civil Appeals stand disposed of in terms of the Settlement Agreement (Annexure-A) and the Site Plans (Annexure-B). A decree shall be drawn, accordingly. The Settlement Agreement (Annexure-A) and the Site Plans (Annexure-B) shall form part of the decree.

4. This Court also appreciates the efforts on the part of Ms. Manjula Gupta, Mediator as well as Ms. Sasmita Tripathy and Mrs. Dipa Dixit, the co-Mediators in assisting the parties to resolve their disputes amicably. It was their hard work and persuasive skill which has resulted in positive results; a litigation which was going on between the parties for the last 50 years has come to an end amicably.

5. Pending application(s), if any, shall also stand disposed of.