Ranjit Singh Boparai v. Satish Kumar Saini

Punjab & Haryana HC20 May 2025CR/2125/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Expedition/time-bound disposal of first appeal; Article 227 supervision jurisdiction; High Court of Punjab and Haryana; senior citizen petitioner (72 years) after 11-year trial; specific performance of agreement to sell dated 09.05.2012; rescission notice dated 21.11.2012; forfeiture of earnest money Rs. 20 lakhs; refund decree with 6% interest; cross-objections; disposal without notice; no opinion on merits.

What did the court decide?

Petition disposed of without notice to the respondent; Appellate Court requested to decide Civil Appeal No. 64 of 2023 as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months; pending application(s), if any, disposed of; no opinion expressed on the merits of the first appeal. ¶¶31

Ranjit Singh Boparai Vs Satish Kumar Saini — Writ and Judicial Review | Punjab & Haryana HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether a direction should be issued to the First Appellate Court to decide Civil Appeal No. 64 of 2023 (filed by the respondent) and the cross-objections filed by the petitioner in a time-bound manner, given the pendency of about two years and the petitioner's age and health.

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Court's answer

Noting that the respondent's civil appeal has been pending for two years, the petitioner is about 72 years of age and has already faced an 11-year trial, the Court requested the Appellate Court to adjudicate upon Civil Appeal No. 64 of 2023 as expeditiously as possible, preferably within three months.

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Ratio / Principle

The petition was disposed of without issuing notice to the respondent, since notice would further delay disposal of the civil appeal and burden the respondent with unnecessary costs of litigation.

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Key takeaways

Nothing stated in the order shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the first appeal.obiter¶¶32
Pending application(s), if any, stood disposed of.ratio¶¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil Revision (CR-2125-2025 (O&M)) under Article 227 of the Constitution of India by Ranjit Singh Boparai, aged about 72 years, seeking a direction to the First Appellate Court to expeditiously decide Civil Appeal No. 64 of 2023 ('Satish Kumar Saini vs. Ranjit Singh Boparai') and his cross-objections. The appeal arises from a trial Court decree dated 06.01.2023 in a specific-performance suit concerning 50% share of Plot No.2258-P, Sector 38-C, Chandigarh, wherein the defendant was directed to refund Rs. 20 lacs with interest @ 6% per annum. The appeal had been pending about two years. Harkesh Manuja J. disposed of the petition without issuing notice to the respondent, requesting the Appellate Court to adjudicate the appeal as expeditiously as possible and preferably within three months, expressly reserving that nothing in the order be construed as an opinion on the merits of the appeal; pending applications, if any, were disposed of. Decision dated 20.05.2025.

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CR-2125-2025 (O&M)

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231-u IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH

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CR-2125-2025 (O&M) Decided on:-20.05.2025

Ranjit Singh Boparai

....Petitioner..

vs.

Satish Kumar Saini (since deceased) thr. LRs.

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....Respondent.

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HARKESH MANUJA

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Present: Mr. Manish Joshi, Advocate for the petitioner.

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HARKESH MANUJA J. (Oral)

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1 . By way of present revision petition filed under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, prayer has been made for issuance of direction to the First Appellate Court to decide Civil Appeal No.64 of 2023, titled as “Satish Kumar Saini vs. Ranjit Singh Boparai” filed at the instance of respondent and the cross objections filed by the petitioner; in a time bound manner.

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2 . In the present case, respondent-plaintiff filed a suit for possession by way of specific performance of an agreement to sell dated 09.05.2012 in respect of 50% share of Plot No.2258-P, Sector 38-C, Chandigarh measuring 259.405 sq. yards (RP-20293), against the petitionerdefendant and in the alternative prayed for recovery of Rs.40 lacs as damages and further for declaration that letter dated 21.11.2012 rescinding the agreement to sell dated 09.05.2012 was illegal/invalid.

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SONIKA 2025.05.27 14:21 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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CR-2125-2025 (O&M)

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It was also pleaded that he along with petitioner jointly purchased the suit property in an open auction. Subsequently, petitioner offered to sell his 50% share to the respondent and entered into an agreement to sell dated 09.05.2012 and the sale price was settled at Rs.1 crore; in terms of the agreement, respondent paid a sum of Rs.20 lacs as earnest money vide draft dated 09.05.2012 and further paid an amount of Rs.18,33,733 vide draft dated 15.05.2012. It was also alleged that all of a sudden, the respondent received a legal notice dated 21.11.2012 from the petitioner for rescinding the contract/agreement to sell dated 09.05.2012 and forfeiting the earnest money. Hence, the present suit.

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3 . Upon notice, petitioner-defendant appeared and filed written statement while submitting that suit is not maintainable. It was also pleaded that the respondent has not come to the Court with clean hands and has concealed material facts. It was pleaded that the respondent was not ready and willing to perform his part of the contract.

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The trial Court after considering rival contentions of both the parties, partly decreed the suit while directing the defendant-petitioner to refund Rs.20 lacs to the plaintiff-respondent along with interest@ 6% per annum, vide its judgment and decree dated 06.01.2023. Aggrieved against the said judgment and decree, the respondent-plaintiff preferred and an appeal, which is pending adjudication.

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5 . Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the civil appeal is pending for the last two years; the petitioner, who happened to be 72 years of age, is suffering from various age related ailments and has apprehension that the respondent may usurp his share by lingering on the present matter

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for one reason or the other, thus, he prays for issuance of direction to the

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SONIKA 2025.05.27 14:21 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

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CR-2125-2025 (O&M)

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Appellate Court to decide the same expeditiously within a time bound manner.

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6 . I have heard learned counsel for the petitioner and gone through the paper book.

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7 . Perusal of file shows that the civil appeal filed on behalf of the respondent is pending for the last two years and the petitioner is about 72 years of age and has faced the hardship of trial for 11 years.

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8 . Considering the aforesaid facts, the Appellate Court is requested to adjudicate upon the Civil Appeal as expeditiously as possible and preferably within three months from today.

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Keeping in view the aforesaid circumstances, the present petition is disposed of without issuing notice to the respondent, as the same would further delay the disposal of civil appeal, besides burdening him with unnecessary costs of litigation.

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It is made clear that nothing stated herein-above shall be construed as an expression of opinion on the merits of the first appeal.

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11. Pending application, if any, stands disposed of.

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20.05.2025 (HARKESH MANUJA) sonika JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/ No

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SONIKA 2025.05.27 14:21 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document

Ranjit Singh Boparai v. Satish Kumar Saini

Case brief

What is this about?

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Ranjit Singh Boparai v. Satish Kumar Saini

Case brief

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What the court decided

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