Delhi High Court Denies Arbitration in Oberoi Family Inheritance Battle
The Delhi High Court has firmly rejected a plea from Natasha Oberoi, daughter of the late hotel magnate P.R.S. Oberoi. She wanted to send her escalating family dispute over her father's estate to private arbitration. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav delivered this significant ruling in an order dated 15 January, which became public on Friday.
Court Says No to Private Arbitration for Wills and Inheritance
Justice Kaurav made a clear and decisive point. He ruled that disputes involving Wills, inheritance rights, and family succession matters cannot be decided by private arbitrators. These sensitive issues must be settled exclusively by the established civil courts. The court emphasized that such matters touch upon personal law and carry significant public interest, making them unsuitable for private resolution.
The court also addressed Natasha Oberoi's specific argument. Although she serves as the managing director of Oberoi Hotels Pvt. Ltd., she is not a shareholder. The court noted she could not rely on the arbitration clause found in the company's Articles of Association to force this family matter into arbitration.
The Roots of the Oberoi Family Rift
This legal battle springs from a deep and painful family rift that emerged after the death of P.R.S. Oberoi in November 2023. Popularly known as "Biki" Oberoi, he was the former executive chairman of EIH Ltd and the respected patriarch of the Oberoi Group. His passing left a vast estate, including substantial shareholdings and interests in EIH Ltd, Oberoi Hotels Pvt. Ltd., and Oberoi Properties.
Two Conflicting Wills at the Heart of the Dispute
The core of the conflict revolves around two different sets of Wills, each backed by different family factions.
One side is led by Anastasia Mirjana Jojic Oberoi, P.R.S. Oberoi's daughter from his second marriage. She is relying on a Will dated 25 October 2021, along with a supplementary codicil from 27 August 2022. Anastasia asserts these documents represent her father's final wishes. According to her, these Wills name her and specific family trusts as the key beneficiaries of the estate, which includes valuable shareholdings in the Oberoi group companies.
The opposing side includes Vikramjit Singh Oberoi (managing director and CEO of EIH Ltd), his sister Natasha Oberoi, and their cousin Arjun Singh Oberoi (executive chairman of EIH). This group disputes the validity of the 2021 Will. Instead, they are putting their faith in an older Will from 20 March 1992.
Vikramjit Oberoi has argued a crucial point. He claims the shares in Oberoi Hotels and Oberoi Properties were held by his father in trust for him and his cousin Arjun. These shares, he contends, were always intended to pass directly to them upon his father's death and should therefore not be considered part of the general estate governed by the later Will presented by Anastasia.
Natasha's Push for Arbitration and the Court's Rejection
Natasha Oberoi's attempt to move the dispute to arbitration followed a specific corporate action. On 6 June 2025, the board of Oberoi Hotels Pvt. Ltd. passed a resolution. This resolution authorized an individual named Tejaswi Dixit to manage all legal matters concerning P.R.S. Oberoi's estate, including filing and defending court cases.
Natasha alleged that Dixit was a "stranger" to the company. She claimed Vikramjit and Arjun Oberoi wrongfully empowered him by bypassing proper board procedures. She argued this move was designed to seize control of the estate litigation and sideline other family members.
Based on this, Natasha contended the real dispute was about company management and internal control. Therefore, she argued, it should be sent to arbitration under existing corporate agreements.
The Delhi High Court saw things differently. It looked past the corporate veil and identified the fundamental issue. The court stated the real question is not about corporate governance. The true conflict is about who is legally entitled to inherit P.R.S. Oberoi's vast assets and determining which Will is valid. On these grounds, the court refused to refer the matter to arbitration.
Previous Court Order Protects the Estate
The court's order also referenced an earlier ruling from September 2024. That order came from a case filed by Anastasia Oberoi. It effectively restrained any transfer of the shares P.R.S. Oberoi held in EIH Ltd, Oberoi Hotels, and Oberoi Properties. This protective measure ensures the estate remains intact and secure until the bitter succession dispute is finally resolved by the courts.
