MUMBAI
The Bombay high court on Wednesday allowed employes of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to make a representation to the Union govt to declare nuclear scientist Homi Bhabha's bungalow here a national monument.
Prashant Worlikar, a BARC employee, had filed a public interest litigation in the high court seeking a halt to the auction sale of Mehrangir bungalow in Malabar Hill, where Dr Homi Bhabha had lived along with brother Dr Jamshed Bhabha. A division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice MS Sonak were informed about a city survey map of 1915, procured from the collector's office, which showed the house was present even then.
Worlikar said: "The map indicates that the house was there then also, which means it's over 100 years old and qualifies to be declared a national monument under Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act."
On the last hearing, the Centre had submitted that after due consideration, it had been decided that the bungalow could not be declared a national monument.
The bench disposed of the PIL, saying the petitioners could make a representation to the Centre for declaring the structure a national monument. It also directed the govt to take a decision, within six months, on the representation.
The Godrej family bought the sprawling house of the father of India's nuclear programme in an auction for a whopping Rs 372 crore from the National Centre for Performing Arts, its custodian.
The Centre had, some time back, shown interest in acquiring the mansion, but later told the court that under the central laws it could not acquire the property and hence had asked the state govt to take over the structure. The state had said the proposal to convert the bungalow into a heritage monument was under its consideration.
Bhabha lived in Mehrangir, one of Mumbai's landmarks, several years before his death in an air crash in the French Alps in January 1966, following which Jamshed became the custodian of the property. A patron of fine arts and culture, Jamshed looked after it till his death in 2007, after which it was transferred to NCPA.
Raima Sen mourns Bharat Dev Varma's demise, pens emotional note for 'great father, great husband'
DNA TV Show: Ahead of Maharashtra poll results, MVA, Mahayuti engage in resort politics
Maharashtra: Stage set for assembly poll results; Mahayuti, MVA confident of their victories
All set for vote counting in Jharkhand tomorrow; NDA, JMM-led alliances confident of winning
Watch: Australia star inquires Rishabh Pant about his next IPL team, gets 2-word reply
Shah Rukh Khan’s house Mannat was first offered to his industry rival…, but he refused because...
The Visionary Who Promises a Blue Sky for India: Holger Thorsten Schubart’s G20 Climate Speech
The Surge of High-End Living: Luxury Residential Market to Outpace Other Segments
FeFCon 2024 to be Held in Bangalore: A Premier Event on Fever Management
'That’s wild': Noida man turns cigarette butts into teddy bears in viral video, watch
London Airport evacuates passengers over security threat, thousands stranded
The World’s First Innovative Iron Supplement to Combat Iron Deficiency and Anaemia
Meet grandmother who became fashion icon after trying on her granddaughter’s clothes
IND vs AUS: Rishabh Pant joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in elite WTC list, becomes 3rd Indian to...
'All scripted drama...': Puneet Superstar allegedly assaulted by influencers in viral video, watch
Actress Ana de Armas caught kissing Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s son in viral photos
Oreshnik's Shadow: Will Russia's hypersonic missile force west to back down?
‘You’re So Beautiful’: World’s tallest woman meets world’s shortest woman over tea, pics go viral
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Consequences of GRAP-4 are drastic, may have adverse effects, says SC
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Schools likely to stay closed till..., check city-wise update
Maharashtra: 3 killed, 9 hospitalised after gas leak at fertiliser plant in Sangli
THIS farm is selling a cup of coffee for Rs 28000, but there's a twist, it is...
Chhattisgarh: 10 Maoists killed after encounter with security personnel in Sukma
Mukesh Ambani's SUPERHIT plan for Jio users, offers unlimited 5G access for 1 year for just Rs...
IND vs AUS 1st Test: KL Rahul's dismissal sparks DRS controversy in Perth Test
Dense fog, heavy rain predicted in these states till November 25; check here
Oreshnik Hypersonic Missile: Which nations are within its range?
Bihar teacher, principal reach school in drunken state; know what happened next
'I have faced a lot of...': Arjun Kapoor REVEALS his biggest fear amid break up with Malaika Arora
How millions of Indians may get affected due to US indictment of Gautam Adani in bribery case
Amid divorce rumours with Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan says 'missing someone is okay but...'
After Bibles, watches and sneakers, Donald Trump is now selling autographed guitars, price is...
Delhi pollution: Air quality improves to ‘very poor’ category, AQI at...
Vladimir Putin's BIG threat, warns he could strike UK with new ballistic missile if...
Shillong Teer Results TODAY November 22, 2024 Live Updates: Check winning numbers here
Somebody misbehaved with Alia Bhatt on Highway sets then Imtiaz Ali had to...
Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal reveals twist behind Rs 200000 job fee, closes application window
Days after Ratan Tata's demise, Tata Group's Rs 131000 crore company inks pact with ADB for...