Kiran Abnashi Chawla v. State & ORS.
$~31, 32 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + TEST.CAS. 74/2019 KIRAN ABNASHI CHAWLA .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Abhishek Kumar Rao, Mr.
Shailesh Suman, Advocates for Petitioner versus STATE & ORS.
.....Respondents Through:
Mr Abhimanyu Mahajan, Ms Anubha Goel, Mr Mayank Joshi Advocates for R-2 Ms Deepti Gupta, Advocate for D-4 + TEST.CAS. 78/2019 ELIZABETH CHAWLA .....Petitioner Through:
Mr Abhimanyu Mahajan, Ms Anubha Goel, Mr Mayank Joshi Advocates versus STATE AND ORS .....Respondents Through:
Mr. Abhishek Kumar Rao, Mr.
Shailesh Suman, Advocates for Applicant - Ms. Kiran Abnashi Chawla
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD
O R D E R
% 10.04.2026 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
I.A. 30347/2025 in TEST.CAS. 78/2019 1.
The present Application has been filed with the following prayers: "a) permit the Petitioner to deposit an amount of Rs. 27,290/- (Rupees Twenty-Seven Thousand Two Hundred Ninety Only) belonging to Mrs. Marguerite La Susa Chawla with the Registry of this Hon'ble Court, withdraw the balance amount lying in Bank Account No.: 52410191961 with Standard Chartered Bank, Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri Branch, New Delhi in the name of "Dr. N P S Chawla - Estate of Smt. Ram Piari Chawla'' towards the aforesaid expenses incurred by her and give directions for closure of the said bank account;
b) pass any other or further order(s) which may be just, fair and equitable."
2.
Material on record discloses that TEST.CAS. 74/2019 & TEST.CAS. 78/2019 were filed for appointing the Petitioners in the Petitions as administrators for the unadministered portion of the estate of Late Smt. Ram Pairi Chawla. It is stated that one Late Smt. Ram Pairi Chawla left three heirs namely, Mr.H.P.S. Chawla, Dr.N.P.S. Chawla and Mrs.Nirmal Chawla Daniere. It is stated that Mr.H.P.S. Chawla has passed away and his wife - Mrs. Marguirite La Susa Chawla, has been arrayed as a Respondent in both the Petitions. In TEST.CAS. 78/2019, the Petitioner also claims to be a legal heir of Mr.H.P.S. Chawla. It is stated that during the pendency of the Petitions, a settlement was arrived at between Mrs.Marguirite La Susa Chawla and Ms.Kiran Abnashi Chawla, the Petitioner herein. 3.
On 13.01.2020 a consent Order was passed in both the Petitions. The terms consented upon reads as under:
"(a) The only unadministered portion of the estate of The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
the deceased is a farmhouse at Village Jaunapur, Tehsil Mehrauli, South-West Delhi.
(b) Parties agree that the said property is required to be disposed of, and the proceeds distributed in the share of 1/3rd each to the heirs of Mr. H.P.S. Chawla, the heirs of Dr.N.P.S. Chawla, and to Ms. Nirmal Chawla Daniere, after meeting expenses.
(c) All parties may bring proposals for sale of the property, which can be exchanged between themselves, and a consensus can be arrived at in this regard. (d) It is agreed that, in the meanwhile, Mrs. Elizabeth Chawla who has been administering the said property, may continue to do so, in the sense that she may make an arrangement for security and maintenance of the property, until disposal thereof."
4.
Vide Order dated 01.12.2022, the parties were referred to the Delhi High Court Mediation Centre to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement. A comprehensive settlement has been arrived at between the parties on 03.05.2024.
5.
Vide Order dated 01.07.2024, I.A. 30964/2024 filed by the Petitioner in TEST.CAS. 78/2019 was disposed of by this Court by holding as under: "1. This application has been filed by the petitioner following reliefs:
"a) direct the concerned person/Branch Head, Syndicate Bank, Chanakyapuri Branch to make the bank account being 52410191961 with Syndicate Bank, Chanakyapuri Branch in the name of "Dr. N P S Chawla - Estate of Smt. Ram Piari Chawla" operational and appoint the Petitioner as the signatory to operate the said The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
bank account;
b) permit the Petitioner to redeem the Mutual Funds in terms of the Settlement Agreement dated 03.05.2024; c) pass any other or further order(s) which may be just, fair and equitable. "
2. The learned counsels for the respondents submit that they have no objection to the prayers being granted, subject to the condition that the petitioner is made bound by the terms of the settlement agreement dated 03.05.2024, which had been arrived at before the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre, where they were referred by an order dated 01.12.2022 passed in the present petition as also in TEST CAS. No.74 of 2019. The settlement agreement also governs both the cases.
3. In view of the above, the prayers made in the application are granted. The parties shall remain bound by the terms of the Settlement Agreement dated 03.05.2024. The parties shall also continue with their mediation proceedings.
4. The application is disposed of."
6.
Today, it is stated by the learned Counsels for the Petitioner and the Respondent in unison that the relief, as prayed for in prayer (a) of the present Application, can be granted.
7.
Accordingly, with the consent of both the parties, the Application is allowed.
TEST.CAS. 74/2019, I.A. 13373/2019, I.A. 16523/2019, I.A. 6071/2022, I.A. 20135/2022, I.A. 20136/2022, I.A. 21202/2022 TEST.CAS. 78/2019, I.A. 6070/2022, I.A. 10585/2022, I.A. 20156/2022 8.
In view of the order passed in I.A. 30347/2025, nothing remains in the The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
present Petitions.
9.
Accordingly, the Petitions are disposed of.
SUBRAMONIUM PRASAD, J APRIL 10, 2026 Rahul The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.