New Delhi, March 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Bombay High Court registry to engage an architect to find an appropriate house in tony areas like Pali Hill-Bandra in Mumbai for socialite Poonam Jaidev Shroff, who is in the middle of bitter matrimonial battle with her industrialist husband Jaidev Shroff.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant had earlier asked Poonam to sort out a house of her choice.
During the hearing on the matter on Friday, her counsel Shyam Divan contended before the court that instead of being asked to look for a house, she could get a monthly rent of Rs 30 lakh from her estranged husband. Noting that the court had heard the matter on many occasions, the bench said it is not inclined to devote more time on it.
The court said: "The Registrar of the Bombay High Court is directed to engage an architect from the panel of the Bombay High Court to locate an appropriate accommodation for residence of the respondent (the woman)."
The court also added a clause that this rented house should be equivalent to her matrimonial house in Pali Hill and the rent will be paid by her husband. It asked the Registrar to file a report within two months.
In the previous hearing on February 26, the top court had asked Poonam to identify a house, as her husband agreed to pay the rent till final disposal of their divorce plea by a family court at Bandra. The bench observed that it will treat it lack of bona fide on her part if she do not get a house.
"We will ask the Registrar General of Bombay High Court to select an architect to find a house for you. Then you have to be satisfied with it," the court had said.
Poonam's counsel asked this offer to be monetized, arguing that she could be paid Rs 25 lakh per month for rent, besides Rs 75 lakh for expenses annually.
Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for the husband, had said the offer was only for the rent.
Earlier, the Chief Justice told Poonam's counsel that "move to a house of your choice on rent... in six months, divorce will be settled."
Another senior counsel representing Poonam said the couple was living together until some apprehensions popped up. "Can a mother and daughter be kept out of their matrimonial house? The daughter is 13 years old," said the counsel.
At this, the Chief Justice told the wife's counsel: "You need to work it out, we ordered mediation twice but it did not work. We are concerned about the roof over your head at this stage, and make a choice to rent a house."
The Chief Justice had emphasised that the court is willing to record that she is willing to relocate to a premises of her choice, and this arrangement will continue till the disposal of their divorce petition before a family court. The court also asked the husband's counsel to pay the rent for the premises of her choice equivalent to the current residence.
Jaidev is the executive director of United Phosphorous. In 2015, he filed a divorce suit against his wife on grounds of cruelty against him and his two daughters from his first wife. He got separated from his first wife in 2000 and married Poonam in 2005.
Source: IANS
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