“Ground realities”

Sorab Katpitia, who manages the portfolio of the Defunct Anjuman Project of the Federation of the Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India (FPZAI), responds:

The process of collecting authentic records from different government departments in Neemuch has caused the delay in responding (Noshir Jal’s letter was dated May 8, 2012). Even during the course of telephonic communication we came to know that the Neemuch Parsi Anjuman has (allegedly) sold three properties without complying with the requirements of Section 14 of the Madhya Pradesh Public Trust Act 1951. In doing so Jal (allegedly) misused authority and had the sale deed signed by an elderly Parsi woman who is designated the secretary.

I enclose the following documents for Parsiana’s perusal and record to substantiate our claim:

?Copy of my letter dated February 22, 2012, addressed to the chairman and trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) which gives an idea of the chronological steps taken.

?On hearing the fact that three properties have been sold, our advocate, Shiv­narayan Bhavsar published a notice in the local newspaper Dashpur Express dated May 9, 2012.

?In response to this public notice the advocate of the Neemuch Parsi Anjuman, Mukesh Bhatnagar published a response notice on May 12, 2012.

?Bhatnagar issued a notice dated May 17, 2012, threatening to file a defamation case against me.

?In response to this our advocate Sunil Patel replied giving all the facts regarding the irregularities and stating that he is at liberty to file the defamation suit and face the consequences. A similar reply was given by Bhavsar. (To date nothing had been done by them.)

To stop further detrimental action, under instruction from our lawyer we wrote to the Collector of Neemuch on April 26, 2012 informing him that there is an agreement between FPZAI and Neemuch Parsi Anjuman and he should wind up the Anjuman and insert the name of FPZAI (procedure of filing a scheme application under the MP Public Trust Act 1951 is in progress). To evaluate our claim we obtained a legal opinion regarding our local standing and other authority from Ratan K. Singh and Company, solicitors of Delhi dated April 2, 2012, which is self-explanatory.

A cousin of Jal’s wife, Darayas Jal, has filed a complaint of mismanagement against Noshir.

In the past one property which was tenanted was vacated after long litigation with the tenant. Noshir wanted to give it out on tenancy basis again. We have stopped him from doing so because if there is a tenant, the value of the property will be less.

As a result of our legal actions Noshir and his wife are trying to show that there are 28 to 30 Parsis in Neemuch, whereas there are only eight, as per the attached list.

I am sure I have furnished sufficient information regarding the facts of the situation. Should anyone need further clarification, they are most welcome to ask for it. You will realize that the delay in responding is not due to any negligence on my part, but my sincere time-consuming efforts to collect the necessary records and information.