SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img



IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Manmohan, Asha Menon, JJ.
Deepshree Singh - Appellant
Versus
Rishi Pratap Singh - Respondent
RFA(OS) 13 of 2021
Decided On : 20-05-2021




A consent decree is binding on all parties, including those who are ex-parte. An appeal must be filed within the limitation period starting from the date of decree, not later.

Headnote:(A) Limitation Act, 1963 - Section 14 - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order XXIII Rule 3 - Consent Decree - Appeal against a decree where the appellant was proceeded ex-parte - Failure to provide necessary consent for compromise - The appellant failed to appear in proceedings, causing a 2331-day delay in appeal - The Court finds no prejudice to the appellant by the decree (Paras 1, 3, 10, 17, 26).

(B) Consent Decree - A consent decree constitutes a lawful compromise and must be respected by all parties to the settlement agreement - The impugned judgment recognizes the appellant's share as per the Family Settlement executed (Paras 12, 18, 26).

(C) Finality in Judicial Proceedings - The Court emphasizes the need for finality in legal disputes to maintain the trust of society (Paras 1, 26).

Facts of the case:
The appellant challenges a decree allowing a compromise between other defendants without her consent, alleging a lack of service of documents and an unfair restriction on her share of property.

Findings of Court:
The appeal is dismissed as both time-barred and unmeritorious, upholding the prior decree recognizing the appellant's share in the property based on a Family Settlement.

Issues: Whether the compromise decree was valid without the appellant’s consent, and whether the appeal was barred by limitation.

Ratio Decidendi: The court ruled that a consent decree binds all parties, including those who appear ex-parte, and the limitation period for appeal starts from the decree date, not from when the appellant claims to have knowledge.

Result: Appeal dismissed.

Table of Content
1. factual basis for the appeal and prior judgment. (Para 2 , 3)
2. arguments against the compromise and decree. (Para 4 , 5 , 6)
3. respondent's arguments on limitations and merits. (Para 7 , 8 , 10 , 11)
4. court's reasoning on consent decree validity. (Para 12 , 13 , 14 , 15)
5. analysis of appellant’s claims regarding prejudice. (Para 16 , 17 , 18)
6. discussion on the nature of legal interests. (Para 19 , 20 , 21)
7. court's reaffirmation of judicial responsibilities. (Para 24 , 25)
8. final conclusion and dismissal of appeal. (Para 26)

JUDGMENT

Manmohan, J.

CM APPL. 13954/2021

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

Accordingly, the application stands disposed of.

RFA(OS) 13/2021 & CM APPLs. 13952/2021, 13953/2021

1. The present case reflects the bane of the Indian judicial system, namely, that there is no finality attached to any judicial proceeding. Litigants think that they can `hop on and hop off the case' at any stage without any consequence using the slogan `pure justice'.

2. It is pertinent to mention that present appeal has been filed challenging the judgment and decree dated 18th November, 2013 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in CS (OS) No 1996/2008, accompanied by an application being C.M.No.13952/2021 seeking condonation of delay of two thousand three hundred and thrity one (2331) days under Section 14 of the LIMITATION ACT , 1963.

3. By virtue of the impugned order and judgement, the learned Single Judge was pleased to allow the compromise application filed by the contesting parties and to decree the Civil Suit. The impugned order and judgement dated 18th November, 2013 passed in CS(OS) 1996/2008 is reproduced hereinbelow:

    "IA No.18213/2013 (Under order XXIII Rule 3 r/w Section 151 CPC)

    [The settlement is taken on record and the suit is disposed of in terms of the settlement arrived at between the parties.

    The application is disposed of.

    CS(OS) 1996/2008

    Defendant nos.2, 3, 4A, 4B, 6, 7 and 8 have been proceeded ex-parte vide order dated 27.04.2011. The matter has been settled between the plaintiff and defendant nos.1 & 5. Plaintiff and defendant no.5 are present in court. The Affidavit of defendant no.1 in support of application being IA No.18213/2013 is already on record. The parties have settled the matter on the following terms:

    (a) That the plaintiff does not press for his claim that Dr.Chander Kanta Khan was not entitled to 50% share of 1/9th share of 1/6th share relinquished by Smt.Tara Mani Singh. Dr. Chander Kanta Khan will be entitled to 50% share of 1/9th share of 1/6th share of late Shri Shiv Dayal Singh in the suit property. Dr. Chander Kanta Khan will pay a sum of Rs.15,00,000/-[Rupees Fifteen Lacs only] to Smt. Tara Mani Singh on the sale of hear 50% share of 1/9th share of late Shri Shiv Dayal Singh in the suit property.

    (b) That Dr.R.S. Chauhan, the defendant no.5 herein, had not signed on the original Family Settlement Deed dated 23rd December, 1999. Dr.R.S.Chauhan has got no objection if the Relinquishment Deed executed by Smt.Tara Mani Singh in respect of her share in the suit property in favour of Dr.R.S. Chauhan is revoked. It has further been agreed among the parties that Dr.R.S. Chauhan will deem to have signed on the original Family Settlement Deed dated 23rd December, 1999.

    (c) That Dr.R.S.Chauhan will continue to reside in 1/6th portion of late Shri Shiv Dayal Singh till the sale of the entire suit property.

    (d) That the parties have further agreed that 1/6th share of late Shri Shiv Dayal Singh shall be sold as one unit along with remaining 5 units in the suit property.

    (e) That every effort will be made to sell the suit property to the highest bidder on or before 31st March 2014.

    (f) That each of the shareholders of the suit property will be entitled to get the sale proceeds of the suit property in proportion to their respective shares. As already mentioned above, Dr. Chander Kanta Khan will be paying a sum of Rs.15,00,000/- [Rupees Fifteen Lacs only

Click Here to Read the rest of this document
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top