Kapur Trust Row: SC Appoints Chandrachud As Mediator
Top court urges parties to avoid public comments and resolve dispute through mediation
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud as mediator in a dispute over a family trust between Rani Kapur and Priya Kapur. A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the parties to participate in the mediation process with an open mind and refrain from making public statements or using social media on the issue.
Observing that the matter involved a family dispute, the court said it should remain confined within the family and be resolved at the earliest. It noted that the suggestion for mediation had been made earlier and that all parties had agreed to the process. The court said it would await a preliminary report from the mediator and posted the matter for further hearing in August. It directed the parties to coordinate with the mediator, with fees and modalities to be decided in consultation.
The bench said mediation would be limited to the present dispute and added that failure to resolve the matter could result in prolonged litigation.
The case arises from a plea by Rani Kapur seeking to declare the family trust void, alleging it was created using forged and fraudulent documents. She has sought to restrain her daughter-in-law Priya Kapur and others from operating the trust.
The dispute relates to control over assets linked to the Sona Group, promoted by late industrialist Surinder Kapur, and proceedings are also pending before the Delhi High Court.
