Greaves Cotton Limited vs. State Rep. By The Inspector Of Police

Court:Supreme Court of India
Judge:Hon'ble Sanjay Kishan Kaul
Case Status:Disposed
Order Date:17 Oct 2022
CNR:SCIN010175982023

AI Summary

In a significant procedural move, the Supreme Court of India referred a Special Leave Petition (Criminal) to mediation, advising parties to seek an amicable resolution. The Court also issued an interim stay on parallel criminal proceedings in the lower court, signaling a push towards alternative dispute resolution in criminal matters.

Ratio Decidendi:
Where parties in a Special Leave Petition (Criminal) mutually agree to explore settlement through mediation, the Supreme Court may refer the dispute to a Mediation and Conciliation Centre, concurrently staying related proceedings in lower courts, to facilitate an amicable resolution.

Case Identifiers

Primary Case No:9500/2022
Case Type:Special Leave Petition (Criminal)
Case Sub-Type:SLP - Criminal - Referral to Mediation
Secondary Case Numbers:23055/2022
Order Date:2022-10-17
Filing Year:2022
Court:Supreme Court Of India
Bench:Division Bench
Judges:Hon'ble Krishna Murari, Hon'ble S. Ravindra Bhat

Petitioner's Counsel

Nalini Chidambaran
Senior Advocate - Appeared
S. Nagamuthu
Senior Advocate - Appeared
M.p. Parthiban
Advocate On Record - Appeared
A. S. Vairawan
Advocate - Appeared
R. Sudhakaran
Advocate - Appeared
G.R. Vikash
Advocate - Appeared
D. Subrahmanya Bhanu
Advocate - Appeared
Rohan
Advocate - Appeared
Harihara Sudhan
Advocate - Appeared

Respondent's Counsel

Siddharth Dave
Senior Advocate - Appeared
Archana Sahadeva
Advocate On Record - Appeared
Siddharth Raj Choudhary
Advocate - Appeared
Madhav Chitale
Advocate - Appeared

Advocates on Record

M.p. Parthiban
Archana Sahadeva

eCourtsIndia AITM

Brief Facts Summary

A Special Leave Petition (Criminal) was filed challenging a final judgment and order of the Madras High Court dated April 13, 2022, which arose from an earlier criminal original petition. During the Supreme Court hearing, a proposal for mediation was put forth by the respondent's counsel and consented to by the petitioner's counsel. Consequently, the Supreme Court referred the matter to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre attached to the High Court, Madras, and stayed the further proceedings in the connected criminal complaint (CC No. 90 of 2016) pending before the Judicial Magistrate No. 1, Ponneri.

Timeline of Events

2016

Criminal Complaint (CC No. 90 of 2016) filed before the Judicial Magistrate No. 1, Ponneri.

2016

Criminal Original Petition (CRLOP No. 27139/2016) filed in the High Court of Judicature at Madras.

2022-04-13

Final judgment and order passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras in CRLOP No. 27139/2016.

2022

Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 9500/2022 filed in the Supreme Court of India.

2022-10-17

Supreme Court hearing; matter referred to mediation and stay of lower court proceedings granted.

2022-11-02

Parties directed to appear before the Coordinator, Mediation and Conciliation Centre, High Court, Madras.

Key Factual Findings

The suggestion for mediation put forth by the learned counsel for Respondent No. 2 is a fair suggestion.

Source: Current Court Finding

The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has no objection to the suggestion of mediation.

Source: Current Court Finding

Primary Legal Issues

1.Referral of a criminal dispute to mediation by the Supreme Court.
2.Interim stay of ongoing criminal proceedings by the Supreme Court.

Secondary Legal Issues

1.Scope of consent-based alternative dispute resolution in criminal matters before the Supreme Court.

Petitioner's Arguments

The learned counsel for the petitioner expressed no objection to the suggestion of referring the dispute to mediation.

Respondent's Arguments

Learned counsel representing Respondent No. 2 made a suggestion that the dispute between the parties could be settled through the process of mediation.

Court's Reasoning

The Court considered the suggestion for mediation, noting that it was a 'fair suggestion' and that the learned counsel for the petitioner had 'no objection'. This consensual approach formed the basis for the decision to refer the matter to mediation and to grant a stay on the lower court proceedings.

Judicial Philosophy Indicators:
  • Emphasis on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Facilitation of Consensual Settlements
Order Nature:Procedural, Interim
Disposition Status:Pending

Impugned Orders

High Court of Judicature at Madras
Case: CRLOP No. 27139/2016
Date: 2022-04-13

Specific Directions

  1. 1.The dispute between the parties is referred to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre attached to the High Court, Madras.
  2. 2.Parties are directed to appear before the Coordinator of the Mediation Centre on 2022-11-02.
  3. 3.The parties shall cooperate in the process of the mediation.
  4. 4.The mediation report shall be submitted to this Court within six weeks.
  5. 5.Further proceedings in CC No. 90 of 2016 pending before the Judicial Magistrate No. 1, Ponneri, shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing.

Precedential Assessment

Non-Binding (Procedural)

This order is procedural, directing parties to mediation and granting an interim stay. It does not lay down a new principle of law or interpret a statute in a manner that would be binding on other courts for substantive matters, though it reflects the Supreme Court's approach to ADR in criminal cases.

Tips for Legal Practice

1.Legal professionals should consider and propose mediation in criminal matters when appropriate, as courts, including the Supreme Court, are open to consensual ADR.
2.Timely agreement to mediation can lead to interim relief, such as a stay on lower court proceedings, providing a window for settlement.
3.Counsel must ensure parties fully understand and cooperate with the mediation process, as court-ordered mediation is typically time-bound and requires active participation.

Legal Tags

Supreme Court Criminal Procedure Code Section 482Mediation and Conciliation Act alternative dispute resolutionStay of criminal proceedings by higher courtsSpecial Leave Petition for quashing criminal complaintConsensual referral to mediation in criminal matters

Disclaimer: eCourtsIndia (ECI) is not a lawyer and this analysis is generated by ECI AI, it might make mistakes. This is not a legal advice. Please consult with a qualified legal professional for matters requiring legal expertise.

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Order Text

ITEM NO.19

COURT NO. $15$

SECTION II-C

SUPREME COURT OF INDIA RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 9500/2022

(Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 13-04-2022 in CRLOP No. 27139/2016 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras)

VIVEKANANDAN & ORS.

Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

STATE REP. BY THE INSPECTOR OF POLICE & ORS. Respondent $(s)$

(FOR ADMISSION)

Date: 17-10-2022 This petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNA MURARI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT

  • For Petitioner(s) Mrs. Nalini Chidambaran, Sr. Adv. Mr. S. Nagamuthu, Sr. Adv. Mr. M.p. Parthiban, AOR Mr. A. S. Vairawan, Adv. Mr. R. Sudhakaran, Adv. Mr. G.R. Vikash, Adv. Mr. D. Subrahmanya Bhanu, Adv. Mr. Rohan, Adv. Mr. Harihara Sudhan, Adv.
  • Mr. Siddharth Dave, Sr. Adv. For Respondent(s) Ms. Archana Sahadeva, AOR Mr. Siddharth Raj Choudhary, Adv. Mr. Madhav Chitale, Adv.

UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R

After the matter was heard at some length, a fair Aggestion has been given by learned counsel representing respondent no. 2 that the dispute between the parties can be settled through the process of mediation.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has no objection to the said suggestion.

Considering the fact, let the dispute be referred to the Mediation and Conciliation Centre attached to the High Court, Madras. Parties to appear before the Coordinator on 02.11.2022. The parties shall cooperate in the process of the mediation and the report be submitted to this Court within six weeks.

Till the next date of hearing, further proceedings in CC No. 90 of 2016 pending before the Judicial Magistrate No. 1, Ponneri, shall remain stayed.

(SONIA GULATI) (BEENA JOLLY) SENIOR PERSONAL ASSISTANT COURT MASTER (NSH)

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