Mumbai: In a rare move, the Bombay High Court has adjourned a Rs 20 crore defamation suit to the year 2046. The case was filed by a senior citizen, now
nearly 90, along with her daughter, against managing committee members of a south Mumbai housing society.
The court had earlier encouraged both sides to resolve the matter amicably. On April 20, it suggested that the dispute could be settled if the defendants issued an unconditional apology.
When the matter was heard on Tuesday, the former committee members, represented by ALMT Legal, agreed to apologise without conditions.
Court adjourns defamation case to 2046
Despite this, the elderly plaintiff chose to continue with the legal proceedings. Taking note of this, Justice Jitendra Jain said, “I do not wish to state anything further except that this matter should not be taken up for the next 20 years.”
The court then adjourned the matter to 2046, effectively putting the case on hold for two decades.
Court criticises dispute
The High Court also expressed concern over the nature of the conflict. It remarked, “This is one of the matters where the ego fight between the parties at their fag end of their life clogs the system, which prevents the court from taking up the matters which really requires more priority.”
90-year-old woman was called ‘defaulter’
The conflict dates back around a decade and revolves around alleged fund collection for repair and maintenance of the housing society. The issue escalated after the woman was labelled a “defaulter” in meeting minutes, prompting her to file a defamation suit.
