G. Thankamma Amma vs. N. Raghava Kurup

Court:Supreme Court of India
Judge:Hon'ble Deepak Gupta
Case Status:Disposed
Order Date:24 Feb 2020
CNR:SCIN010223332019

AI Summary

The Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition challenging a Kerala High Court order, thereby upholding the earlier judgment. This decision means the legal battle, initiated decades ago, has concluded at the apex court level, impacting the parties involved in what appears to be a long-standing property or civil dispute.

Ratio Decidendi:
The Supreme Court will not interfere with an impugned order in a Special Leave Petition if it finds no compelling reason or legal infirmity warranting the exercise of its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 136, even if a delay in filing the petition has been condoned.

Case Identifiers

Primary Case No:22333/2019
Case Type:Special Leave Petition (Civil)
Case Sub-Type:SLP - Second Appeal against High Court Order
Secondary Case Numbers:4999/2020
Order Date:2020-02-24
Filing Year:2019
Court:Supreme Court of India
Bench:Division Bench
Judges:Hon'ble Deepak Gupta, Hon'ble Aniruddha Bose

Petitioner's Counsel

Sanand Ramakrishnan
Advocate on Record - Appeared
Rajeev Mishra
Advocate - Appeared
Sanjeev Kr. Mahra
Advocate - Appeared

Advocates on Record

Sanand Ramakrishnan

eCourtsIndia AITM

Brief Facts Summary

A Special Leave Petition (Diary No. 22333/2019) was filed in the Supreme Court by G. Thankamma Amma & Ors., challenging a final judgment and order dated November 8, 2018, passed by the High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam in Second Appeal No. 451/1994. The petition included applications for condonation of delay in filing and refiling/curing defects. The Supreme Court heard the matter on February 24, 2020, condoned the delay, but ultimately dismissed the Special Leave Petition, declining to interfere with the High Court's order.

Timeline of Events

1994

Second Appeal (SA No. 451/1994) originated in the High Court of Kerala.

2018-11-08

Final judgment and order passed by the High Court of Kerala in SA No. 451/1994.

2019-06-29

Special Leave Petition (Diary No. 22333/2019) filed in the Supreme Court.

2020-02-17

Applications for condonation of delay in filing and refiling filed.

2020-02-24

Supreme Court hears the SLP, condones the delay, and dismisses the petition.

Key Factual Findings

There was a delay in filing the Special Leave Petition, which the Court deemed appropriate to condone.

Source: Current Court Finding

The High Court's impugned order, upon review, does not present sufficient grounds for interference by the Supreme Court.

Source: Current Court Finding

Primary Legal Issues

1.Whether the High Court's final judgment in the Second Appeal warranted interference by the Supreme Court under its Special Leave Petition (Article 136) jurisdiction.

Secondary Legal Issues

1.Whether the delay in filing the Special Leave Petition should be condoned.

Statutes Applied

Constitution of India
Article 136
Jurisdiction for Special Leave Petition, exercised in declining to interfere with the impugned order.

Petitioner's Arguments

The petitioners implicitly argued that there were sufficient grounds to condone the delay in filing their Special Leave Petition and that the High Court's impugned order suffered from legal infirmities or injustice that warranted intervention by the Supreme Court.

Respondent's Arguments

The respondents implicitly argued against the condonation of delay and that the High Court's impugned order was legally sound and did not require any interference from the Supreme Court.

Court's Reasoning

The Court first condoned the delay in filing and refiling the Special Leave Petition, indicating that the petitioners provided a satisfactory explanation for the delay. However, after considering the merits of the case, the Court found no compelling reason or legal infirmity to exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 136 of the Constitution. Therefore, the Court declined to interfere with the High Court's judgment and dismissed the Special Leave Petition, upholding the lower court's decision.

Judicial Philosophy Indicators:
  • Judicial Restraint
  • Emphasis on Procedural Compliance
Order Nature:Substantive and Final
Disposition Status:Disposed
Disposition Outcome:Dismissed

Impugned Orders

High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam
Case: SA No. 451/1994
Date: 2018-11-08

Specific Directions

  1. 1.Delay condoned.
  2. 2.We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order.
  3. 3.The Special Leave Petition is accordingly dismissed.
  4. 4.Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

Precedential Assessment

Non-Binding (Procedural)

This is a brief summary dismissal of a Special Leave Petition in limine, without a detailed exposition of law. While it confirms the High Court's decision in this specific case, it does not lay down a new or significant principle of law and thus holds limited precedential value beyond reiterating the discretionary nature of Article 136 jurisdiction.

Tips for Legal Practice

1.Legal professionals should note that condonation of delay in filing a Special Leave Petition does not automatically entitle the petitioner to a favourable outcome or even a full hearing on merits, as the Supreme Court still assesses the grounds for intervention.
2.The Supreme Court exercises its extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 136 sparingly, emphasizing that only cases involving substantial questions of law or grave injustice warrant its interference, rather than routine appeals against lower court findings.
3.A thorough and objective assessment of the merits and grounds for an SLP is crucial before filing, as summary dismissals highlight the rigorous threshold for intervention by the apex court.

Legal Tags

Special Leave Petition dismissal upholding High Court orderSupreme Court Article 136 jurisdiction non-interferenceCondonation of delay in SLP filing principleFinality of High Court judgment civil disputesAppellate review principles by Supreme Court India

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.

Order Issued After Hearing

Purpose:

Case Registered

Listed On:

24 Feb 2020

Original Order Copy

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Order Text

ITEM NO.6 COURT NO.15 SECTION XI-A

S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) Diary No(s). 22333/2019

(Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 08-11-2018 in SA No. 451/1994 passed by the High Court Of Kerala At Ernakulam)

G. THANKAMMA AMMA & ORS. Petitioner(s)

VERSUS

N. RAGHAVA KURUP & ORS. Respondent(s)

(FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.29937/2020-CONDONATION OF DELAY IN FILING and IA No.29938/2020-CONDONATION OF DELAY IN REFILING / CURING THE DEFECTS )

Date : 24-02-2020 This petition was called on for hearing today.

CORAM :

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK GUPTA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANIRUDDHA BOSE

For Petitioner(s)

Mr. Sanand Ramakrishnan, AOR

Mr. Rajeev Mishra,Adv.

Mr. Sanjeev Kr. Mahra,Adv.

For Respondent(s)

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

Delay condoned.

We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order. The Special Leave Petition is accordingly dismissed.

Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

Digitally signed by AR CUM PS BRANCH OFFICER GEETA AHUJA Date: 2020.02.24 16:46:11 IST Reason: Signature Not Verified

(SUMAN WADHWA) (PRADEEP KUMAR)