Relief to Bachchan Family Regarding ‘Pratiksha’, HC Gave order on BMC’s Notice

The Bombay High Court has granted Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan a major relief about their villa 'Pratiksha.' For the next three weeks, the High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to refrain from taking any coercive action against petitioners Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. At the same time, the court ordered the Bachchans to register objections with the BMC to the notice issued for the acquisition of a portion of their Juhu home, 'Pratiksha.'

Amitabh-Jaya approached the High Court

The Bachchans had filed a petition in the high court earlier this week, disputing the BMC's notification. Justices RD Dhanuka and SM Modak, sitting as a division bench, ordered him to file a representation with the BMC within two weeks. "When the representation is filed, the BMC will hear it after six weeks and make a decision," the bench stated. For three weeks after the verdict is made, no coercive action will be taken against the petitioners."

Several plots adjacent to their residential property are within the usual line

The court also stated that if necessary, a personal hearing of the Bachchan couple's lawyers can be held. The petition asked for the BMC's notice to be quashed and an injunction to prevent the local body from proceeding with land purchase. On April 20, 2017, the Bachchan couple received two letters from the BMC, indicating that several plots adjacent to their residential property are within the usual line of the road and that the BMC wishes to purchase such land, as well as the necessary walls and structures.

The problem of road widening

The Bachchans had sent their representatives to the BMC office to obtain information about the notice and speak with officials from the civic body. The representatives advised BMC authorities that widening the road on the opposite side of the properties would be easier for the civic body.

They had planned to adopt the suggested notice

According to the Bachchans' appeal, the BMC took no action to enforce the notice for four years and nine months, until January 28, 2022. According to the petition, the petitioners recognized that the notice given was withdrawn during this period, which is why no formal objection was filed. According to the petition, several BMC officials orally informed the petitioners on January 28, 2022, that they had planned to adopt the suggested notice and that a portion of the plots indicated in the notice will be acquired soon.