Frivolous exercise

Admonishing the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) counsel for raising frivolous issues, justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra of the Supreme Court (SC) of India directed the BPP to focus instead on the mediation process recommended by the court.

The BPP had approached the court regarding clarifications regarding the year in which the apex trust was formed along with some other technical points. The justices felt that it was unnecessary to move the court for such extraneous matters and directed the application to be forwarded to the mediator Sriram Panchu.

F. S. Nariman, S. Divan, senior advocates with U. A. Rana and M. Majumdar appeared on behalf of Jamsheed Kanga and Homi Khusrokhan who took up cudgels for the two ostracized priests, Ervads Framroze Mirza and Khushroo Madon. Advocate Percy Ghandy appeared on behalf of the BPP. Noted advocate and intervener in the case on behalf of Kanga and Khusrokhan, Tehmtan Andhyarujina was also present.

The BPP has appealed to the SC against the order of the divisional bench of the Bombay High Court striking down the ban on two priests alleged to be "renegades.” The SC judges had directed the parties to mediate, failing which they would hear the matter and take a decision.