Parsi property in Indore

The Free Press Journal (FPJ) of July 28, 2016 reported that nine acres of land of a Parsi family worth Rs 14 crores were declared as government property by the district administration in Indore "due to non-availability of successor and a proper will.”
The report states that on the instruction of collector P. Narahari, an official named as D. D. Sharma passed the order in this regard. Sharma was reported as saying that "the original owners of the land, located at Rau square, were Nargis Homi, daughter of A. H. Shah (sic) and her sister Jarubai and they did not have any heir and they died without writing a will.”
The report continues that subsequently, some people were trying to capture the land during which time the district administration checked the documents and also demarcated the land. Finally, "not getting any successor of Parsi sisters, the land was declared as government property and the same was registered in the government land records.” The report states that the market value of the land is estimated at Rs 25 crore.
Parsiana contacted Bomi Heerjee, president of the Indore Parsi Anjuman, who requested us to contact Indore based legal counsel for the heirs, Rohinton Thanevala. Clarifying that the name of the owner was in reality one Eruchshaw and not A. H. Shah as quoted in the FPJ report, he mentioned that it was too early to comment as the order had only just been passed. He suggested that things would be clearer in a month’s time, when he would be ready to provide details.
Farrokh Jijina