HC stays lower court order in Faridkot royal property dispute

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13

Just about a month after Chandigarh Additional District Judge upheld a lower court verdict in a property dispute between two sisters belonging to Faridkot’s royal family, the High Court today stayed the operation of the judgment.

Justice Surinder Gupta also summoned lower court record, while fixing May 25 as the next date of hearing in the case.

The order came on a regular second appeal filed against Amrit Kaur and other respondents by Deepinder Kaur, Maharwal Khewaji Trust and other appellants through senior advocate Chetan Mittal and Kunal Mulwani.

Raja Harinder Singh Brar was the last ruler of the Faridkot estate and was married to Narinder Kaur and they had three daughters, Amrit Kaur, Deepinder Kaur and Maheepinder Kaur, and one son, Tikka Harmohinder Singh.

The court below had divided 50 per cent share of property each between Amrit Kaur and Deepinder Kaur, being the two daughters of Harinder Singh. But, the trust, Amrit Kaur and Deepinder Kaur filed appeals in the sessions court against the trial court order, which was dismissed.

Deepinder Kaur, declared 50 per cent owner of estate left by the Raja, has challenged the findings recorded by the courts below discarding the “registered Will” dated June 1, 1982.

Broadly the grounds taken in the appeal are that another “registered Will” dated May 22, 1952, was executed by the Raja. As per that Will also, eldest daughter Rajkumari Amrit Kaur had been excluded. It was also submitted that the Will dated June 1, 1982, had also been discarded on frivolous grounds and facts beyond pleadings.

The Bench was told that even if the property was to go by way of natural succession, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur was entitled to only one-fourth share as the Raja’s mother was alive at the time of his death.