Bombay HC schedules 90-year-old plaintiff's defamation case for 2046

The Bombay High Court has taken an unusual step by postponing a nine year old defamation case all the way to the year 2046. The case involves a dispute between two senior citizens, Tarinibahen Desai and Kilkilraj Bhansali, which the court described as more of an “ego fight” than a serious legal matter, as per reports.

In an order dated April 28, Justice Jitendra Jain reportedly said that the court’s time should be used for more important cases. He observed that such personal disputes should not block the system and delay cases that need urgent attention. The court also stated that the case will not be given priority just because the people involved are senior citizens.

The case reportedly dates back to 2017 when two women filed a defamation suit after a disagreement in the Shyam Co-operative Housing Society. The issue was linked to a 2015 annual general meeting, where a resolution was passed to remove them from the society. The women claimed that notices and letters issued by the society damaged their reputation and caused mental stress. They demanded ₹20 crore as compensation, as per reports.

Earlier, the court had reportedly suggested settling the matter with an unconditional apology, but the plaintiff, who is nearly 90 years old, reportedly chose to continue with the case. There were also delays, and at one point no one appeared in court for the hearing. 

Considering all this, the judge reportedly decided that the case should not be heard for the next 20 years. This decision has now effectively put the matter on hold till 2046, highlighting the court’s focus on handling more serious and urgent cases first.