The Privy Council reversed the appellate ruling and reinstated the trial judge's determination that the deceased father had genuinely promised a specific parcel known as the Land on the Hill to his daughter, Vashti Ramlal. Although the legal terms of the December 1995 will conflicted with this promise, the Board confirmed the commitment had indeed occurred. However, Vashti was denied proprietary estoppel and equitable relief because her legal team failed to plead or prove those claims during the original trial. The demolition order was ultimately set aside after the court acknowledged that the occupied area accounted for slightly less than one-twelfth of the total estate.
Key points
The Privy Council overturned the Court of Appeal's demolition directive after labeling th…: The Privy Council overturned the Court of Appeal's demolition directive after labeling the lower court's decision as completely unexplained.
Vashti Ramlal was barred from securing equitable relief under proprietary estoppel becaus…: Vashti Ramlal was barred from securing equitable relief under proprietary estoppel because the argument was improperly introduced on appeal.
The demolition order was vacated in part because the siblings formally stated in Septembe…: The demolition order was vacated in part because the siblings formally stated in September 2023 that they opposed tearing down the home.
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In December 1995, a father in Trinidad made a will leaving 4.75 acres of mainly swampy, undeveloped land to his twelve children in equal shares. His daughter, Vashti Ramlal, said he had promised her the section known as the Land on the Hill. On 23 February 2026, the Privy Council, in a judgment by Lord Briggs, upheld the trial judge's finding that the promise was made, but held that no case of proprietary estoppel was open to her. The Board also set aside the Court of Appeal's order to demolish a nearly completed house, describing the order as "completely unexplained".
Privy Council reviews dispute over promised hill land and house demolition
Lord Briggs states that the dispute became contentious because Vashti's siblings, other than Chandra, were concerned that Vashti's family was claiming more than her share. He records that nine of the children issued a claim in November 2016 against Vashti, Omar and their son Ravi, seeking damages for trespass, demolition of a new house, and removal of fencing and belongings from the Land on the Hill. The judgment says…
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