In a significant development, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court delivered a verdict on Thursday, putting an end to a protracted legal battle over the leadership of the prestigious MP Birla Group. The case, initiated over three years ago, saw a single-judge bench order the removal of Harsh Vardhan Lodha as the chairman of the group. However, the recent division bench ruling sheds new light on the complexities surrounding the dispute.
The legal saga revolves around the estate of the late Priyamvada Devi Birla, the former chairperson of the MP Birla Group, who passed away on July 3, 2004. Her registered will, dated April 18, 1999, bequeathed her estate to her adviser, Rajendra Singh Lodha. Following her demise, Lodha assumed the chairmanship of the group, boasting an annual revenue of $1.8 billion, with diverse business interests in cement, jute, cables, guar gum processing, and a notable presence in education and healthcare through 11 schools and 12 non-profit hospitals.
| Jul-04 | Priyamvada Birla dies, legal battle over her will starts |
| Mar-08 | SC dismisses claim to her estate by Birla family |
| Oct-08 | RS Lodha dies, Harsh Lodha succeeds as chair of MP Birla Group |
| Aug-12 | Calcutta HC appoints 3-member panel to Priyamvada Birla’s estate |
| Sep-20 | Single judge of HC orders Lodha to stand down from all offices of the group |
| Oct-20 | HC division bench rules Lodha could continue as chairman |
| Dec-23 | Bench rules Lodha shouldn’t have been ordered to stand down, bars administrators from interfering in ops of cos not under its direct control |
Members of the extended Birla family contested Priyamvada Birla’s will, triggering a prolonged legal battle that spanned various courts and judicial forums. The focal point of contention remained the appointment of Harsh Lodha, the son of the late Rajendra Singh Lodha, as the chairman of the MP Birla Group.
On September 18, 2020, a single judge of the Calcutta High Court passed an order directing the removal of Harsh Vardhan Lodha as the chairman. This decision raised questions about the court’s authority to interfere with the functioning of the companies, trusts, and societies within the MP Birla Group.
The recent division bench ruling emphasized the limitations on the court’s interference in the internal affairs of the companies, trusts, and societies associated with the MP Birla Group. The judges asserted that a universal or dynamic injunction affecting the future course of action of the companies was not within the purview of the Testamentary Court. The court clarified that such interventions couldn’t be justified merely because the testatrix, Priyamvada Devi Birla, could not have taken such actions in law during her lifetime.
The estate of Priyamvada Devi Birla is currently under the custody of a three-member committee of administrators, and the recent verdict imposed restrictions on their functioning. The administrators’ authority is now limited to matters directly related to the shares owned by the late Priyamvada Birla.
Thursday’s verdict marks a crucial chapter in the MP Birla Group’s legal saga. It not only upholds the sanctity of the late Priyamvada Birla’s will but also establishes clear boundaries on the court’s interference in the internal affairs of the group’s entities.
Disclaimer:This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making related decisions.
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