SC proposes Uttara Babbar as advocate commissioner for Ardee Group dispute

The Supreme Court on Thursday proposed the name of senior advocate Uttara Babbar to act as advocate commissioner in a dispute involving the family of late real estate developer Ashok Varma over the Ardee Group and related family assets.

A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale was told by lawyers for both sides that they agreed with the suggestion. The court asked the parties to check Babbar's convenience and whether she would be willing to take up the exercise to give effect to the memorandum of settlement dated February 5. The matter has been posted for hearing on October 6.

Recording the development, the bench said: "A suggestion made by this court, as to whether Uttara Babbar, senior counsel, would be able to act as an advocate commissioner, to be assisted by the advocate commissioner who has already undertaken the exercise to an extent. On the said suggestion, both the senior counsel appearing for the respective parties are ad idem."

The property dispute in the Ardee Group concerns Shefali Varma and Shibani Varma Kapur, daughters of the late Ashok Varma, and relates to control of the family's real estate assets and business interests.

The top court had earlier appointed former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph as mediator to help the parties reach an amicable settlement.

In an earlier order, the bench had said: "Having considered the gravity of the issue, we propose that the parties should go for mediation, on which senior counsel representing the parties have agreed to take recourse to mediation. By the consent of the senior counsel for both the parties, we request Justice Kurian Joseph, former judge of this court, to burn the midnight oil and to help in amicable resolution, if possible."

Justice Joseph later submitted an interim report saying the parties had resolved their major disputes through mediation. He told the court that more time was needed to work out a comprehensive settlement framework and complete the implementation process.

Taking note of the report, the Supreme Court granted time for implementation of the settlement and directed the parties to carry forward the agreed terms.

The interim report said the parties had reached a settlement of their major disputes, and the court is now considering the next steps for carrying it forward.