Summary Justice Muhammad Sajid Mahmood Sethi issued an eight-page verdict, restoring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s appeal and directing him to deposit a fine of Rs100,000.
LAHORE (Muhammad Ashfaq) – Known singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has received relief in a hereditary property dispute case after the Lahore High Court set aside a trial court decision that had dismissed his appeal over non-payment of court fees.
Justice Muhammad Sajid Mahmood Sethi issued an eight-page verdict, restoring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s appeal and directing him to deposit a fine of Rs100,000.
According to the ruling, the singer had filed a civil suit in Faisalabad seeking confirmation of possession of a double-storey house measuring 1 kanal and 9 marlas. A civil court had issued a decree against him on May 14, 2019, after which he challenged the verdict before a trial court.
The judgment stated that the trial court dismissed the appeal on technical grounds after Rahat Fateh Ali Khan failed to submit a court fee of Rs15,000. He later approached the Lahore High Court against that decision.
The high court observed that dismissing an appeal solely due to non-payment of court fees was against the principles of justice. The verdict further noted that appeals should not be rejected merely because of technical defects or non-payment of fees.
The court also pointed out that the trial court had granted the petitioner only four days to submit the court fee, calling the time insufficient. It emphasized that the right to appeal is a valuable legal right and cannot be taken away on purely technical grounds.
The Lahore High Court directed the trial court to decide the appeal on merit within two months without unnecessary delay. The court also ordered all parties, including Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, to appear before the relevant court on June 2.
