Delhi HC Orders Brother-in-Law to Pay Rs 1.01 Crore Plus Interest for Underpaying Sister-in-Law in Land Sale
· India · Times of India, Indian Express
The Delhi High Court directed a brother-in-law to pay his deceased sister’s daughters Rs 1.01 crore plus 8% annual interest after he sold 26 bighas of Najafgarh land for Rs 6.95 crore in 2011 but transferred only Rs 72 lakh to her under a general power of attorney (GPA). The woman, who held a one-fourth share, died intestate, leaving her daughters to pursue the case. The court ruled that the GPA’s ‘power to gift’ clause did not legitimise the brother-in-law’s failure to pay her full share of Rs 1.73 crore. The dispute began when the woman discovered the sale only after receiving the partial payment.
Why it matters
The ruling sets a precedent for how general powers of attorney are interpreted in property transactions, particularly when one party exploits the clause to bypass fair compensation. It directly impacts women and heirs who may rely on GPAs for property management but risk exploitation if not legally safeguarded.
Read the original report — Times of India
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