Authority: Supreme Court of India
Order Date: 06‑08‑2026
Case Overview
- Parties: Appellant – M/S PUNJ SONS PVT. LTD; Respondents – the estate of the late RAVINDER PRAKASH PUNJ and others.
- Civil Appeal No.1992/2014 concerning substitution of legal heirs of deceased respondents.
- Applications filed: IA No.256209/2024, IA No.146886/2025, IA No.16412/2025, IA No.16413/2025.
- Counsel for respondent No.1 (Mr. Sanjay Jain) opposed substitution, citing that the will of the deceased did not name the heirs.
Observations & Reasoning
- The Court noted that the will presented by respondent No.1 does not fall for consideration and cannot be the basis for refusing substitution.
- Sufficient grounds were found to condone the delay in filing the substitution applications.
- The Court set aside the earlier abatement order and directed that the legal heirs of the deceased respondent No.1 be brought on record.
- The Court directed the parties to file an amended memorandum of parties within two weeks.
- Freshly impleaded respondents in place of respondent No.1 are to be served within six weeks.
- Regarding respondent No.2, the Court ordered issuance of notice on the substitution application and granted four weeks for filing a response, with the matter to be posted after six weeks.
Final Outcome
- IA Nos.16412/2025 and 16413/2025 are allowed; abatement is set aside; legal heirs of deceased respondent No.1 are recorded.
- Substitution applications for both deceased respondents are permitted, subject to the procedural timelines specified.
- Parties must comply with the amendment and service directions within the stipulated periods.
Topics: Substitution of Heirs, Civil Appeal Order