2026:HHC:39406 IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA OMP (M) No. :   81 of 2023 Decided on   :  15.09.2026 National Highways Authority of India .....Appellant Versus Tulsi Ram (deceased) through LRs & Others .....Respondents Coram The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Virender Singh, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the applicant      : Ms. Ritu Sharma, Advocate. For the respondent   : Mr. Piyush   Bhardwaj,   Advocate vice   Mr. Amit   Singh   Chandel, Advocate, for respondents No.1(i), 1(ii), and 2. Respondent   No.3,   is   stated   to have expired. Virender Singh, Judge (Oral) Applicant­National Highways Authority of India has preferred the accompanying appeal against the award dated 03.09.2022,   passed   by   the   Court   of   learned   District   Judge Bilaspur, District Bilaspur, H.P. in Case No.26 of 2018, titled as   ‘National   Highways   Authority   of   India   versus   Tulsi   Ram (deceased) through LRs & Others’. 2026:HHC:39406 2. Since, the appeal is barred by limitation, as such, the present application has been filed for condonation of delay. 3. Respondent No.3, is stated to have expired. As per the contents of the applications, bearing OMP(M) Nos.250 and 251 of 2024, respondent­Dina Nath expired on 05.01.2019. In order to demonstrate the said fact, death certificate of Shri Dina   Nath   issued   by   the   competent   authority   has   been annexed. 4. On   05.01.2019,   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 respondent­Dina Nath. 5. Since, 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. 6. My 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:­ 2 2026:HHC:39406 “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’.” 7. In   view   of   the   above,   this   Court   is   left   with   no option,   but,   to   set   aside   the   award   passed   by   the   learned District Judge, Bilaspur and to remand the matters back to the learned   District   Judge,   Bilaspur,   for   fresh   disposal,   in accordance   with   law,   after   bringing   on   record   the   legal representatives of the respondent No.3­Dina Nath. 8. Since, the lis was pending from the year 2011, as such, it is expected from the learned District Judge to decide the matter, within a period of four months. 9. With   these   observations,   the   awards   dated 03.09.2022,   passed   by   the   learned   District   Judge,   are   set aside. 10. Parties,   through   their   counsel,   are   directed   to appear, before the learned MACT, on 29th September, 2026. 3 2026:HHC:39406 11. All   pending   miscellaneous   applications   shall   also stand disposed of. Record be sent back, immediately. ( Virender Singh ) Judge September 15, 2026 (ps) 4