The Bombay High Court has adjourned a Rs 20 crore defamation suit filed by a nearly 90-year-old woman and her daughter against the managing committee members of a south Mumbai cooperative housing society to the year 2046. The court made the unusual order after a settlement attempt failed and the plaintiff insisted on pursuing the case.
Court's Observations
Justice Jitendra Jain, presiding over the single bench, remarked, "I do not wish to state anything except that this matter should not be taken up for the next 20 years." The dispute, which arose about a decade ago, involves allegations of defamation over a housing society meeting. The court had earlier, on April 20, requested both sides to attempt a settlement, suggesting that the defendants could issue an unconditional apology.
When the matter came up for hearing on Tuesday, the erstwhile committee members, represented by ALMT Legal, expressed readiness to apologize unconditionally and without prejudice. However, the senior citizen refused to accept the apology and insisted on continuing the defamation suit, as noted in the one-page court order.
Ego Clogging the System
The High Court observed, "This is one of the matters where the ego fight between parties at the fag end of their lives clogs the system, which prevents the court from taking up the matters which really require more priority." The dispute originated from the alleged collection of funds for repair and maintenance of the society, which the woman objected to. In the minutes of an extraordinary general meeting, she was referred to as a "defaulter," prompting the defamation suit.
In a 2018 order, one of the issues to be decided was whether an August 2015 notice calling for an annual general meeting of Shyam Niwas Cooperative Housing Society, and the conduct and statements of defendants at a September 2015 meeting, were defamatory towards her.
Previous Proceedings
On March 27, 2025, another single-judge bench of Justice Abhay Ahuja noted that both the plaintiff and defendants were unrepresented in court. He adjourned the matter to July 2025, clarifying that if no one appeared for the plaintiff on the next date, the court would consider dismissing the suit. However, on Tuesday, the woman was represented by an advocate.
Justice Jain directed, "List this matter after 2046. At any cost, this matter should not be given priority on the grounds that the petitioners are senior citizens or super senior citizens. It is expressly made clear that this matter will not be taken up for hearing before 2046."
