AZA clips BPP’s wings

On October 22, 2007, the Joint Charity Commissioner, N. V. Deshmukh, restrained trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) from entering into any financial transactions with regard to trust properties. "This stay order was passed after a detailed hearing of both sides, in an application filed by Zareer Jehangirji and others of the Alert Zoroastrians Association (AZA) under Section 41D of the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, for removal of the trustees on grounds of malfeasance, misfeasance and breach of trust,” writes Berjis Desai in his weekly column "Parsi tari arsi” in The Bombay Samachar, dated October 28, 2007.

In the 350-year-old history of the BPP "never has such a major order been passed against the trust,” Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly of October 28, 2007 bemoaned. Phiroze Bulsara of Panthaki Baug and Jehangirji had earlier filed an application seeking suspension and removal of the BPP trustees. The AZA action is a reflection of the growing frustration over the judicial delays and the opposition from the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) to introducing universal adult franchise.

Broadly agreeing with AZA that, in this twilight period before the elections, the trustees ought not to take any major policy decision two trustees, Dinshaw Tamboly and Maneck Engineer have filed affidavits to that effect before the Charity Commissioner, Desai writes in the Samachar dated November 4, 2007. Despite the ad interim order, the trustees wanted to proceed with the Wadia Committee meeting to allot/transfer flats. But yet another application from AZA put paid to that and the meeting was cancelled, Desai informs.

Describing the current scenario Desai asks: "Six trustees who… are bitter, angry, divided, frustrated, confused, bottled up. An experienced CEO who has apparently retired (and not resigned)… An aggressive AZA and other similar applicants breathing fire and brimstone. More applications and more stay orders. Different courts, different judicial fora. Mounting litigation expenses for the BPP. Paralysed administration – frustrated beneficiaries. Do you think it is time to appoint an administrator?”