Chandigarh, March 31 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed deep concern over the rising number of property disputes among blood relatives, warning that material greed is eroding familial bonds and fueling violence.
“Property disputes between family members have existed for centuries, but their frequency and intensity have sharply increased over the past quarter-century with the surge in land prices,” Justice Vikram Aggarwal observed.
While adjudicating a family dispute, the court noted that such conflicts often arise only after the head of the family passes away. “It is unfortunate that in many cases, disputes do not arise during a person’s lifetime, but the moment they leave the mortal world, battle lines are drawn,” Justice Aggarwal said.
The Bench lamented the decline in traditional family values, contrasting the present era with the “good old times” when young family members deeply respected their elders, who were in turn fair and caring. “In most families, property disputes were looked down upon, especially when they involved blood relations and close family members,” the court stated.
Expressing concern over the growing hostility in such conflicts, Justice Aggarwal remarked that “murders take place over property disputes and civil litigation has become the order of the day.”
Citing the proverb “blood is thicker than water,” the court noted that it originally conveyed the primacy of family bonds over other relationships. However, Justice Aggarwal observed that financial interests were increasingly overshadowing these ties.
The court’s observations serve as a stark warning, cautioning that the relentless pursuit of property could erode the fabric of society, leaving behind a legacy of discord rather than harmony.
