Supreme Court Invokes Article 142 to End 35-Year Property Litigation
Introduction: When Justice Is Delayed Beyond Reason In a significant reaffirmation of its role as the final arbiter of justice, the Supreme Court of India invoked its extraordinary constitutional powers under Article 142 to bring closure to a 35-year-old civil property dispute , ensuring that the successful litigant finally enjoys the fruits of a decree granted in his favour as far back as 1990 . The case highlights systemic delays in civil litigation, abuse of procedural remedies, and the judiciary’s increasing willingness to step in decisively when ordinary legal processes fail. Background of the Dispute: A Sale Agreement from 1973 The litigation traces its origins to 1973 , when Hemchandra Rajaram Bhonsale entered into an agreement to purchase 36 gunthas of land situated in Dhayari village, Pune , from the original owner Rajaram Bajirao Pokale . Despite receiving consideration, Pokale failed to execute the sale deed, compelling Bhonsale to initiate specific performance proceedin...