Unorthodox approach

Employing an unconventional and unorthodox approach, Justice Roshan Dalvi of the Bombay High Court (BHC) managed to bring to an early and amicable conclusion a property dispute between aged parents and their son. The dispute, which could have dragged on in the courts for years, was settled in just a little over three hours, reported Mumbai Mirror (MM) on September 6, 2012. The incident took place on August 30, 2012 at Courtroom No 19 on the first floor of the BHC, which Dalvi ordered should be vacated by all except the two parties so that the dispute could be settled through discussion rather than litigation.
The matter, involving Suryakant Shah, 82, his wife Indira, 76 and their son Neelang, 50, came before the court in May 2012. Suryakant had resided as a tenant in Ghelabhai Mansion, Chowpatty since 1965. When the property was to be redeveloped the Shahs received Rs 1.4 crore as compensation and Neelang used Rs 80 lakhs from that amount to purchase a place at Ghaswalla Towers, Lamington Road, jointly in his father’s and his own name, reported MM. The remaining Rs 60 lakhs was invested in a fixed deposit where Suryakant was the first holder, the newspaper added.