National High Way Authority of India v. Gurbakhash

IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA OMP (M) No. :  224 of 2024

Decided on   :  05.10.2026

National Highways Authority of India .....Appellant Versus Gurbakhash .....Respondent

Coram The Hon'ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the applicant      : Ms. Shreya Chauhan, Advocate. For the respondent   : None. Virender Singh, Judge

(Oral) OMP(M)   Nos.642   &   681   of   2026   in   OMP(M) No.224 of 2024

Applicant­National Highways Authority of India has preferred the accompanying appeal against the award dated

27.12.2023,   passed   by   the   Court   of   learned   District   Judge Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, H.P. in Case No.61 of 2019, titled as 'National Highways Authority of India versus Gurbakhash'.

¶2Since, the appeal is barred by limitation, as such, the present application has been filed for condonation of delay.

¶3Respondent is stated to have expired.   As per the contents of the applications, bearing OMP(M) Nos.642 and 681 of 2026, respondent­ Gurbakhash expired on 23.11.2020.  In order to demonstrate the said fact, legal heirs certificate of deceased Gurbakhash issued by the competent authority has been annexed.

¶4On   23.11.2020,   the  lis  was   pending   before   the learned District Judge, Bilaspur.  Meaning thereby, the award has been passed against a dead person, as, no efforts have been made by the applicant­appellant to bring on record the legal representatives of respondent­Gurbakhash.

¶5Since, the death had taken place, when the lis was pending, before the learned District Judge, as such, the award passed by the learned District Judge, Bilaspur, for or against a dead person is nullity.

¶6My this view is being guided by the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in 'Gurnam Singh (Dead) through Legal Representatives   &   Ors.  Vs.  Gurbachan   Kaur   (Dead)   by Legal   Representatives'   (2017)   13   SCC   414.     It   is   apt   to reproduce para 21 of the judgment, as under:­ "It is a fundamental principle of law laid down by this Court in Kiran Singh's case (supra) that a decree passed by the Court, if it is a nullity, its   validity   can   be   questioned   in   any proceeding including in execution proceedings or   even   in   collateral   proceedings   whenever such decree is sought to be enforced by the decree holder. The reason is that the defect of this   nature   affects   the   very   authority   of   the Court in passing such decree and goes to the root   of   the   case.   This   principle,   in   our considered   opinion,   squarely   applies   to   this case because it is a settled principle of law that the decree passed by a Court for or against a dead person is a 'nullity'."

¶7In   view   of   the   above,   this   Court   is   left   with   no option, but, to set aside the award, qua case No.61 of 2019, titled   as   National   Highways   Authority   of   India   versus Gurbakhash, passed by the learned District Judge, Bilaspur and to remand the matter back to the learned District Judge, Bilaspur,   for   fresh   disposal,   in   accordance   with   law,   after bringing on record the legal representatives of the respondent­ Gurbakhash.

¶8Since, the lis was pending from the year 2019, as such, it is expected from the learned District Judge to decide the matter, within a period of four months.

¶9With   these   observations,   the   award   dated

27.12.2023,   passed   by   the   learned   District   Judge,   in Arbitration No.61 of 2019, is set aside.

¶10Parties,   through   their   counsel,   are   directed   to appear, before the learned District Judge, Bilaspur, on  26th October, 2026.

¶11All   pending   miscellaneous   applications   shall   also stand disposed of. Record be sent back, immediately.

( Virender Singh )

Judge October 05, 2026 (ps)