The Election Commission (EC) led by Cmde Aspi Marker has stayed the conversion of Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) flats from leave and license into tenancy. The Wadia family scion Nusli Wadia has also voiced his opposition to the proposal. The hastily passed resolution to transfer the flats was approved by the three majority trustees on February 21, 2022 to curry favor with the voters prior to the May 29, 2022 elections for seven trusteeship seats.
At a meeting on March 29, the Bombay High Court appointed EC gave "a detailed hearing to both sides and permitted the parties to tender documents in support of their contentions… Both parties have been reminded of their agreement and assurance given to the EC… not to issue any public advertisement/news item in the media regarding conversion of leave and license to tenancy allotment pending decision of the EC on the complaint,” stated the chief election commissioner Cmde Aspi Marker (retd).
The Parsi Junction of March 27, carried a full page of editorial/advertisement headlined "Congratulations to the trustees for allowing conversion of leave and licenses to tenancies.”
The EC also directed the trustees "not to convert any leave and licenses to tenancy, pending decision of the EC on the complaint.”
In an email dated March 29, BPP trustee Noshir Dadrawala wrote to Wadia inquiring whether the Wadia Committee of Management (WCM) was "fine with this new policy, adopted in my opinion without application of mind and as a pre-election sop.” Wadia replied the same day he was not aware "of this policy change… We were not even consulted. I am opposed to this change (and) would request the trustees to suspend this immediately until it is reviewed at the WCM after the elections… If my suggestions are not acceptable, I will need to consider options that could include the reversal of the policy post elections which will require making the tenants aware that the policy will be reconsidered by the new board and WCM together.” The WCM manages the five Wadia baugs.
An attempt to thwart the wage settlement agreement between the BPP and the Mumbai Mazdoor Sabha (MMS) by potential BPP trusteeship candidate Dr Zuleika Homavazir was also stymied by the Commission. Marker wrote, "Signing the agreement with the Union regarding wages and other conditions of service as is customary for a three-year period is not a major policy decision. As a matter of fact the trustees are obliged to negotiate and conclude settlement with the labor union from time to time… Further, negotiating with the Union does not amount to inducing or influencing voters.”
Homavazir had written, "The BPP trustees are in the process of executing agreements… to increase the remuneration and emoluments and other financial emoluments in favor of some employees… which is in the tune of several crores of rupees… You are requested to kindly convene a formal and urgent hearing so as to injunct such actions.”
The 12 pallbearers who are members of the MMS responded stating, "Dr Homavazir is trying to create a rift amongst the management of the staff, workers and Union by publishing such nefarious, false and wild articles.” They stated that thanks to the Union "we are proud to say that today our salary ranges from Rs 26,000 at the minimum to Rs 39,000 at maximum. All these have been possible because of sincere efforts put in by our Union.” The Union president is Chandbibi Zaidi and general secretary, Dhunji Naterwalla.
A meeting with the Union had been scheduled for Saturday March 26 at 11 a.m. "Trustee Viraf Mehta sent an email at 11.19 a.m. to say he will not be attending,” chairwoman Armaity Tirandaz (was at a funeral) and did not pick up the phone and (BPP trustee) Xerxes Dastur came a little later, wrote Dadrawala in a WhatsApp text. "It was a complete waste of a day,” he added.