WAPIZ supreme challenge

"It’s so clear there are basic legal, factual… errors (in the judgment). Read the operational part towards the end,” says noted tax lawyer and the World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (WAPIZ) founder trustee Homi Ranina when queried whether WAPIZ would challenge the divisional bench order of Justices Dr S. Radhakrishnan and Anoop Mohta sanctioning adult franchise. The judgment delivered on April 30, 2008 also ruled that the resignation of the four Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trustees was invalid. Ranina said it was not WAPIZ’s intention to "hold up the electoral process.” The registration process could continue till end June as directed by the court. Thereafter if the Supreme Court admits their special leave petition a stay may be given by the apex court.

In the event WAPIZ wins the case, the recently elected Anjuman Committee (AC) would elect the new trustees, says Ranina. Asked if the new AC would not also be struck down as the BPP would not have had the required quorum of three trustees to sanction the AC elections, Ranina reasoned that since the court had directed the holding of those elections the trustees were merely performing an "administrative act… Even assuming all seven trustees were not there, the administration can conduct” the AC elections, he averred. "Policy decisions (however) cannot be taken.” WAPIZ has reportedly packed the AC with their members/sympathizers. No elections were held as no other party enrolled voters in anticipation of elections being held under adult franchise.

The WAPIZ Page of May 9, 2008 categorically states: "WAPIZ is not against adult franchise.” What they oppose is Parsis from outside Bombay registering as voters. "What is of even greater concern is that the community residing out of India, especially in North America, has under western influences, become liberalized beyond all acceptable norms. To give them a right to elect BPP trustees would be to make the Punchayet vulnerable to their influence and their irreligious agenda,” states the write-up. In the Bombay High Court WAPIZ lawyers had initially argued in favor of the AC scheme as versus adult franchise.