A 34-year-old legal battle among the legal heirs of Faridkot’s last ruler, Harinder Singh Brar, over a royal inheritance worth over Rs 25,000 crore is likely to end through consensus.
The Supreme Court has appointed Justice Rajesh Bindal, former judge of the Supreme Court, to act as the mediator to explore the possibility of a settlement between the parties.
The Supreme Court order states: “Senior counsel appearing for two legal heirs said that if the matter were referred to a mediator who could be a retired judge of this court, there is every possibility that the issue could be resolved. Senior counsel appearing for the respondents and other counsel for the parties have expressed no objection to the above submission.”
The order further states: “Considering the request made, and in our considered view also, the request so made could result in an amicable settlement as the remaining dispute is primarily about the shares of the parties in the estate. Accordingly, we conferred with Justice Rajesh Bindal, former Judge of this court, to act as the mediator to explore the possibility of a settlement between the parties.”
The parties are directed to approach the mediator on or before May 15. “We request the mediator to submit the report at the earliest, preferably within four to six weeks thereafter,” the court said.
In the meantime, status quo shall be maintained by the parties with respect to possession, construction, and alienation of all properties and assets, whether movable or immovable.
The legal battle among the legal heirs of the king has been going on for over 34 years in a Chandigarh court.
Amrinder Singh, grandson of Kanwar Manjit Inder Singh, brother of Faridkot’s last ruler Harinder Singh Brar, filed an execution application last year in a Chandigarh court, triggering fresh litigation in the matter.
Harinder Singh Brar was the last ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Faridkot and was crowned king at the age of three in 1918. Brar and his wife, Narinder Kaur, had three daughters and a son.
His son died in 1981. After his son’s death, Harinder Singh Brar slipped into depression and his will was executed around seven to eight months later. One of his daughters, Amrit Kaur, filed a civil suit in the Chandigarh district court in 1992, challenging the will and questioning its authenticity.
In 2013, the Chandigarh district court declared the will dated June 1, 1982, in favour of Maharawal Khewaji Trust, as illegal, non-existent, and void, and granted inheritance to Brar’s daughters. In June 2020, the high court upheld the Chandigarh court’s order with modifications, granting a share to the family of the king’s brother.
The king’s properties include Raj Mahal in Faridkot spread over 14 acres, Qila Mubarak in Faridkot, Faridkot House on prime land on Copernicus Marg in New Delhi, a plot in Sector 17, Chandigarh, and a fort at Manimajra. Many other properties of the king are situated across the country.
