Surat Parsi Panchayat embroiled in a land-sale controversy

Surat : A major controversy has erupted in the Parsi community over the alleged motives of the Surat Parsi Panchayat (SPP) trustees and president in selling a prime property in Surat’s walled city of Lal Gate. Some Parsi community members claim that the SPP trustees planned to sell the property—a residential structure and an open plot—without even notifying the community or publishing a public notice in the newspapers.

The SPP issued a public notice on its official website www.suratparsipanchayat.com stating that Surat Parsi Panchayat Funds and Properties owns the piece of land as well as a residential property with a two-story structure bearing Ward No. 12, an open plot with Nondh No. 615 measuring approximately 55.18 square metres. Meter and residential structure with Nondh No. 617 and an area of 83.613 Sq.

The tenants have made an offer to the Surat Parsi Panchayat Board to purchase the aforementioned plot of land as well as the residential structure for four times the current Ready Reckoner (Jantri) price, for a total of Rs.3,12,28,424 crore.

According to sources, the SPP gave its large piece of land (16000 square metres) on long-term lease a few years ago for 75 paise per square metre.

Peace and Parsi are synonyms in many ways.From the doyens of the Indian Industry to some of the greatest philanthropists ever, the contribution of Parsis to the progress and development of India is just immense. From big business houses to those old world charm Irani Cafes, they rule our hearts across a wide spectrum. However, no big processions, no loud and larger than life festivities, and an extremely modest and humble way of living make Parsi culture and traditions quite intriguing and fascinating for us.

However, this is the first time that the Parsi community is against the SPP for selling off the land owned by the community without informing the members.

“We have put up the public notice on our website for our community members,” Dr. Homi Darabshaw Dudhwala, president of SPP, told The Blunt Times. The deadline for responding was March 22. We will present our proposal to the Charity Commissioner’s office for the sale of land and a residential structure. We are following standard operating procedure.”

According to a Lease Deed dated 24.3.2004, out of the total land, the land measuring 18,449 sq. meters was given on lease for a period of 34 months to Kishan Construction Co. , and a lease deed was executed for 34 months on 13.7.2004 to avoid the procedure of obtaining permission under Section 36 of the Bombay Public Trust Act.

The tenants in Residential house City Survey No.12/617 are Rohinton M. Patel, Yasmin Kerfegar Koopar, and Hoshang Jahangirji Mirza, according to information gathered by The Blunt Times. On Open plot city Survey No.12/615, there is no tenant. SPP is the one who occupies it.

“Why are the SPP trustees and president withholding all such details, including the Public Notice, from the Parsis of Surat?”” inquired a member of the Parsi community. “Has any Surat Parsi read the Public Notice in any local newspaper for its final date to submit a higher bid?” The trustees and president of SPP believe in the 18th century trust deed and are not truthful to the Parsis of Surat.”

Another Parsi community member said, “One of the oldest constitutional institutions of the Parsis – the Surat Parsi Panchayat – has been enslaved since 1841 by Sir Jamshedji Jejeebhoy – a hereditary baronet.  The Parsis of Surat do not have the right to delegate the governance of this body or to elect their Trustees or to exercise their public control over its functioning through election of trustees in their Parsi Panchayat.  The Supreme Court of India has also given a judgment in this regard.  Yet the trustees of Surat’s Parsi Panchayat and the trustees who appointed them from Mumbai consider themselves higher than the Honorable Supreme Court of India”