/ MUMBAI: A family property dispute that began before the Bombay HC just two weeks after the Constitution came into force has finally ended 76 years later. On Feb 27, the court ordered the partition of the remaining one acre (4,271 sqm) of land in Yerawada, Pune, among the heirs of landowner MMH Janmohamed who had left behind two large and valuable plots, including one on Deccan College Road, reports Swati Deshpande. In a judgment made available on March 11, Justice Farhan Dubash brought closure to the decades-long legal battle between two sets of heirs. The dispute dates back to Feb 8, 1950, when Ebrahim Chotani and other heirs filed a suit against Osman Chotani – another heir – seeking partition and their shares in the properties. In March 1950, the HC appointed a court receiver to manage the disputed properties, permitted their sale, and later that month directed a preliminary partition. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: ‘All oil and energy infrastructure will turn to ashes,’ says Iran after US hits Kharg Island’I’m what?’ Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu mocks death rumours, shows off five fingers – watch’Must take care’: Trump urges nations to send warships to Strait of Hormuz as conflict with Iran intensifiesThe Maharashtra govt acquired the Deccan College Road plot, and the compensation was distributed among the heirs in 1979. What remained under dispute was a 16 acre plot in Yerawada. The case became more complicated when the heirs of a manager appointed by the landowner during his lifetime claimed rights over the property, asserting the land had been given in lieu of debts. They also claimed half the property, relying on a written note dated June 1946 from Osman, the court noted. Another individual also claimed ownership, citing adverse possession. In 1952, the court receiver filed a suit in a Pune civil court seeking the land’s possession. In June 1953, the manager’s heirs agreed to relinquish their broader claim in exchange for a one-fourth share of the 16 acre plot, acknowledging the property belonged to the Chotani family. A compromise settlement followed in 1955, but the land remained unpartitioned for another three decades.About the AuthorSwati DeshpandeSwati Deshpande is Senior editor at The Times of India, Mumbai, where she has been covering courts for over a decade. She is passionate about law and works towards enlightening people about their statutory, legal and fundamental rights. She makes it her job to decipher for the public the truth, be it in an intricate civil dispute or in a gruesome criminal case.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDiscussed Ways To Fast-Track EU FTA With S Jaishankar: Piyush GoyalIndian Vessel ‘Jag Laadki’ Escapes Unhurt After Attack At Fujairah Oil TerminalSTF Arrests Man Who Helped Bangladeshi Murder Suspects Sneak Into India After Dhaka KillingRahul Gandhi Writes To PM Modi, Demands Bharat Ratna For BSP Founder Kanshi RamTMC MP Mahua Moitra Accuses BJP Workers Of Bringing -Jungle Raj- To West Bengal‘Chai-Pakora At Parl Door’: Amit Shah Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi Over LPG Protest, AI Summit Row7 Indian Pilgrims Killed, Several Injured After Bus Slips Off Mountain Road In NepalInfiltration Bid Foiled In J&K: Pakistani Terrorist Killed In Army-Police Joint Operation In Uri‘Because I Am Brahmin…’: Mani Shankar Aiyar Slams BJP, Clarifies ‘Neech Aadmi’ Comment On PM Modi‘Act Of Aggression’: India Strongly Condemns Pakistan’s Air Strikes On Afghanistan123PhotostoriesStomach feels tight after a normal meal? Gastroenterologists explain why digestion can slow down and share simple habits that help ease post-meal bloating7 summer foods Indians traditionally ate to beat the heatAmerican TV sitcoms to watch with friends: ‘Friends’, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ and more10 benefits of eating soaked almonds daily: Dietitians explain how this simple morning habit supports brain, heart and digestive healthSara Tendulkar steps out with new bhabhi Saaniya Chandhok after Arjun Tendulkar’s wedding; their saree looks steal the spotlightThe best romantic comedies on TV: ‘Bhakarwadi’, ‘Anandibaa aur Emily’ and more6 foods that may cause bloating if eaten too often7 architectural features that increase natural light in housesPriyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Rashmika Mandanna: Pan-Indian actresses who conquered multiple film industries10 ways Kathal or Jackfruit is prepared across India123Hot PicksIran war newsLPG crisis in IndiaElection CommissionGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingSanju SamsonBrittany Mahomes Net WorthWilt ChamberlainMovsar EvloevMichael BispingLPG Crisis IndiaAssembly election dateIran US WarIPL 2026 Chennai Super KingsMiddle East War
MUMBAI: A family property dispute that began before the Bombay HC just two weeks after the Constitution came into force has finally ended 76 years later. On Feb 27, the court ordered the partition of the remaining one acre (4,271 sqm) of land in Yerawada, Pune, among the heirs of landowner MMH Janmohamed who had left behind two large and valuable plots, including one on Deccan College Road, reports Swati Deshpande. In a judgment made available on March 11, Justice Farhan Dubash brought closure to the decades-long legal battle between two sets of heirs. The dispute dates back to Feb 8, 1950, when Ebrahim Chotani and other heirs filed a suit against Osman Chotani – another heir – seeking partition and their shares in the properties. In March 1950, the HC appointed a court receiver to manage the disputed properties, permitted their sale, and later that month directed a preliminary partition. The Maharashtra govt acquired the Deccan College Road plot, and the compensation was distributed among the heirs in 1979. What remained under dispute was a 16 acre plot in Yerawada. The case became more complicated when the heirs of a manager appointed by the landowner during his lifetime claimed rights over the property, asserting the land had been given in lieu of debts. They also claimed half the property, relying on a written note dated June 1946 from Osman, the court noted. Another individual also claimed ownership, citing adverse possession. In 1952, the court receiver filed a suit in a Pune civil court seeking the land’s possession. In June 1953, the manager’s heirs agreed to relinquish their broader claim in exchange for a one-fourth share of the 16 acre plot, acknowledging the property belonged to the Chotani family. A compromise settlement followed in 1955, but the land remained unpartitioned for another three decades.
