Three of its dissenting trustees approached the Charity Commissioner on Friday to initiate proceedings against the four majority trustees over the decision to grant tenancy rights to long-standing residents. MUMBAI: The protracted dispute within the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP)—the apex body of the Parsi Zoroastrian community in India and Mumbai’s largest private landlords — over converting leave-and-licence agreements into tenancy has escalated.
The move follows a June 9 decision by the majority trustees to allow long-standing residents of BPP colonies to seek conversion of their leave-and-licence agreements into tenancy – a decision that could benefit nearly 1,900 licensees across 22 baugs, accounting for approximately 40% of the trust’s housing stock in Mumbai. In a joint statement to the community, the three minority trustees said the move resulted from an impasse in discussions, noting that 38 of their questions remained unanswered and essential documents and letters were withheld. In their proceedings, the minority trustees argued that the proposed conversion raises questions about the protection of the BPP’s Parsi-only housing covenant and the trust’s obligation to preserve properties in accordance with the original intentions of donors and settlers who wanted a Parsi-only enclave.
They also questioned whether covenants will remain legally enforceable under tenancy arrangements, given the statutory eviction protections of the Maharashtra Rent Control Act, 1999, and flagged the potential risks to the trust’s control over its properties during redevelopment, specifically concerning rehabilitation and future ownership rights. The majority trustees defended the conversion, arguing that it would provide long-term housing security to community members while retaining safeguards to protect the Parsi-only housing covenant. “The move (of the dissenters) does not make any sense – the proposal to grant tenancy was approved by four trustees, including the chairperson.
In principle, the minority should respect the majority decision instead of derailing the process,” the occupant told HT.
One of the three occupants who received tenancy rights earlier this month defended the majority trustees’ decision.
