MUMBAI: The Supreme Court on October 15 issued notice to the charity commissioner and stayed redevelopment of a Bhendi Bazaar property.
Here are the key points in the case.
- The building called Haji Ismail Haji Habib Musafirkhana was constructed in 1939.
- The building is allegedly the last known address of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Mumbai.
- The Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) is undertaking a cluster redevelopment of a large number of buildings in Bhendi Bazar.
- The SBUT is redeveloping an area spread over 16 acres.
- The SBUT has rebutted the contention of the Maharashtra State Board of Wakfs that it is Wakf property.
- On Thursday, the SC order came on a special leave petition by the Wakfs Board.
- The Wakfs board contention is that under section 51 of Wakf Act a Wakf property cannot be sold even with permission of the Board.
- The HC had upheld permission granted by the charity commissioner to trustees of Haji Ismail HH Musafirkhana Trust to sell its property.
- The dilapidated building at the junction of Yacub street, Pakmodia Street and Edulji Cooper Street in Mumbai was to be sold to SBUT for Rs 1.1 crore for its cluster redevelopment project.
- The building's inhabitants were to be rehabilitated in the project.
- Occupants say that there is a masjid in the building which itself is a Waqf property and involved in a title dispute.
- The SBUT contention is that it was not a masjid, but a prayer hall.
- The SC has on SBUT plea fixed the matter for hearing on October 28.