HC asks Godrej, Parsi Punchayat to help as baug residents can’t afford repairs

MUMBAI: Occupants in most baugs or residential enclaves of Parsis are not in a position to undertake repairs, observed the Bombay high court on Thursday, urging the Bombay Parsi Punchayat and Pirojsha Godrej Foundation to see if they could offer any financial help. The remark was made when the court was told that Godrej and the Punchayet had expressed their inability to contribute to structural repairs of a cessed building near the Princess Street junction.
A division bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice P D Kode was hearing a petition by two residents of one of the five two-storey buildings owned by the H B Wadia Fire Temple Charity Fund. The petition says neither the landlord/trust nor Mhada is ready to repair the houses, citing financial inability. On May 9, the HC had directed the landlord/trust to seek help from major community corporates like Tatas, Wadias and Godrej and the Parsi Punchayat.
The residents’ advocates, Raju Moray and Sagar Rane, said while the Tatas did not respond, the Punchayat and Godrej expressed inability to help.
Bemoaning the condition of buildings in baugs, Justice Kanade said, “In most Parsi baugs, the occupants are not in a position to repair the buildings.” The judges said major corporate houses should use their trust money for the community’s benefit.
Moray told the court that residents and the landlord have each agreed to pay one-third of the repair costs. Mhada’s advocate sought time to tell how much help it can offer. The landlord’s advocate Khushroom Davierwalla said, “It is finding out the cost after selecting contractors.” Hoping the repairs are over before next monsoon, the court said, “We would like to request Godrej and Parsi Punchayat if any help can be provided to the residents who are all Parsis.”