The Supreme Court has issued notice on a plea challenging a Madras High Court order that dismissed a suit over a 2.7-acre property in Chennai purchased by late actor Sridevi's family in 1988.

A bench of Justices KV Viswanathan and Arun Palli directed parties to maintain status quo on the property until the next hearing.

MC Sivakami and her brother claim a share in the East Coast Road property and had filed a suit against Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor, daughters Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor, and others.

What is the dispute?

The property was sold to Sridevi's family through a sale deed dated April 19, 1988. Sivakami challenged the dismissal of her suit, arguing that the trial court had found a prima facie cause of action and that the claim was within the limitation period.

Her lawyers, Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran and Advocate Balaji Srinivasan, argued that the Madras High Court went into the merits of documents and questions of legal heirship at the preliminary stage, effectively conducting a "mini-trial".

The Kapoor family's counsel, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, argued that the property transaction was nearly three decades old and that the 2025 suit was barred by limitation. He also referred to the petitioners having attained adulthood in 1995 and 1999.

Supreme Court suggests mediation

During the hearing, the bench questioned the parties about the ownership share of MC Chandrasekaran, who had sold the property, and the petitioners' claim that they were his children.

The court also suggested resolving the dispute through mediation and said a retired High Court judge would be appointed as mediator.

The matter has been listed for December 18 to consider the mediation proceedings. For now, the status quo order remains in place.