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2023 Supreme(Online)(DEL) 8856

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* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + RFA(OS) 136/2012 & C.M.Nos.12305/2014, 39987/2017 SHIJU JACOB VARGHESE & ANR. ..... Appellants Through: Mr.Anil Airi, Sr.Advocate with Mr.Navin Kumar, Ms.Rashmeet Kaur, Ms.Aarti Mahto, Mr.Mudit Ruhella, Ms.Sadhana and Ms.Bhagya Ajith, Advocates.

versus TOWER VISION LIMITED & ORS. ..... Respondents Through: Mr.Dayan Krishan and Mr.Rajshekhar Rao, Sr.Advocates with Mr.Susmit Pushkar, Mr.Anchit Oswal, Mr.Sanjeev Seshadri, Mr.Shreedhar Kale, Mr.Sudi Mullick, Mr.Yigal Gabriel, Mr.Meherasp Mistry, Ms.Meherunissa Anand, Mr.Dushyant Kale and Ms.Roshni Srivastava, Advocates. Reserved on : 25th September, 2023 % Date of Decision: 17th October, 2023 CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANMOHAN HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE MINI PUSHKARNA Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT TABLE OF CONTENTS Para Nos.

APPLICATION……………………………………..………………………………………………..…1 ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANTS-RESPONDENTS……………..………………….…………………………..…2-5 ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE APPELLANTS………………………………..6-22 Court’s Reasoning……………...…..………………………………………………..……..23-51 If on account of a subsequent event the suit or appeal becomes infructuous, the court can dispose it of ………………………………………………..………..….....…...…23 Due to a consensual global agreement in Tel Aviv, the cause of action no longer survives……….………………….…..…………………….....24-27 Dismissal of the rescission application operates as a bar in prosecuting the appeal…………………………………………………........................28-31 To allow the continuance of the appeal would be violative of the principle of comity of courts…………………………………………..……...................32 Additional reliefs and additional parties in present suit offer no assistance to the appellants…………..…………………………………………..…..…....33 Share entitlement does not bind respondents no.3, 4 &5………………….…....34-37 Question of enforcement of consent order does not arise…………………….......…38 Argument that consent order gave enhanced rights to appellants has to be canvassed before courts in Israel…………………………………………………..........…39 Appellants’ reliance on judgment of Supreme Court of Israel is misconceived……………………………………………..………………..................40 Proceeding ahead with appeal despite consent order, amounts to relitigation which is an abuse of process………………………………….…….....…41-49 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………...50-51 Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT

J U D G M E N T

MANMOHAN, J:

CM APPL.39987/2017

1. Present application has been filed on behalf of the Respondents under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (‘CPC’) for dismissal of the appeal on the ground that it has become infructous.

ARGUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE APPLICANTS - RESPONDENTS

2. Mr. Dayan Krishan and Mr. Rajshekhar Rao, learned senior counsel for the Applicants-Respondents contended that the present appeal was infructuous in view of the settlement of disputes between the parties as recorded in the consent order dated 11th May, 2017 passed by the Tel Aviv District Court. In support of their contention, theyrelied on the following facts and submissions:

2.1 A document entitled ‘Share Entitlement’ was executed in favour of Appellant No.1 by Respondent No.2 i.e. Tower Vision Limited Partnership through Respondent No.1 i.e. Tower Vision Limited in its capacity as the general partner of Respondent No.2 on 17th October, 2006. The Share Entitlement dated 17th October, 2006 is reproduced hereinbelow:-

“To:

Mr.ShijuVarghese Re:ShareEntitlement

1. We the undersigned Tower Vision Limited Partnership, an Israeli registered limited partnership (the “Partnership”), hereby confirm that you have today an absolute and unconditional interest in 7% of the rights of the Partnership. We further confirm that in case of any structure changes which will result in the partners holding their interests in the Tower Management business through any other entity. You shall be entitled to receive absolutely and unconditionally 7% of the rights of any such other entity, which will be established by the partners of the Partnership, and which will replace the Partnership in any holding structure related to the Tower Management business of the Partnership. For the avoidance Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT of doubt such Tower Management business of the Partnership is today carried out viaTowerVisionMauritiusLimited.

2. We willallocatethe rightsorsharesreferredtoinSection1above toyourname or toanyotherentityasInstructedinwritingbyyou.

3. Ourundertakinghereinsupersedesany previousundertakingprovidedtoyoubyus and/or by any related entity in respect of your entitlement to receive any share and/or right in the Partnership’s tower management business. Any previous undertaking and/or obligation regarding the subject matter of this letter shall becomenull,andvoidasofthedateofthisLetter.

Sd/-

TowerVisionLimitedPartnership byTowerVisionLtdasGeneralManager”

2.2 Though Respondent No.3, Tower Vision India Private Limited (an Indian Company), had been incorporated prior to the date of Share Entitlement i.e. on27th January, 2006, yet there was noreferencetothesaidcompanyinthis document. As on the date of execution of Share Entitlement i.e. 17th October, 2006, 99.99% shares of Respondent No.3 were held by Respondent No.4 and

0.01% (1 share) was held byElgadcom Group Company.

2.3 On 13th November, 2008, a suit being ‘Civil File No. 2192 of 2008’ was filed by the Appellants (‘Tel Aviv suit’) before the Tel Aviv District Court against Respondents No.1 and 2, who are Israeli companies as well as Respondent No.6 (Trustee) and Rani Benyamini (not a party in the present proceedings), relying solelyon the Share Entitlement dated 17th October, 2006.

The amended reliefs claimed in the said suit are reproduced hereinbelow:-

“43. The Honorable Court is hereby requested to determine in declaratory judgmentasfollows:

43.1 The Share Entitlement Document is valid and is absolutely and unconditionally binding on the Partnership and Tower Israel in its capacity of generalpartner;

43.2 Alternatively – Benyamini signed the Share Entitlement Document, and he is personallyobligatedtofulfilltheShareEntitlementDocument.

Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed By:JASWANT

43.3 The Partnership and/or Tower Israel and /or Benyamini breached their undertakingsundertheShareEntitlementAgreementwiththePlaintiff1.

43.4 The Trustee has breached his duties towards the Plaintiff 1 under Sect

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