Supreme Court appoints Justice L N Rao as mediator in Rs 1 lakh crore Kalyani family inheritance dispute

New Delhi: The SC on Monday appointed its former judge Justice L N Rao as the sole mediator to explore an amicable resolution of a long-running inheritance dispute over the Kalyani family's ancestral wealth, estimated at over ₹1 lakh crore.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana urged a battery of senior lawyers representing Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani and his sister Sugandha Hiremath respectively to explore mediation to resolve their inheritance dispute. "You may have said no to mediation earlier but when Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court requests, will you not heed it? Mediation can be successful when stalwarts from either side step in and help," the CJI said. Justice Bagchi also underscored the importance of a constructive approach, saying, "There cannot be a hostile approach to mediation." The bench requested Justice Rao to act as mediator in the dispute. "We will request Justice L Nageswara Rao to devote some time to this and hear both sides," the CJI said. Recording the consent of the parties, the court noted that the senior counsel appearing for both sides assured the bench that they would contact Justice Rao during the day itself so that the mediation process could start on Tuesday.