Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has referred a family dispute involving veteran filmmaker Ramesh Sippy and the family of his late brother, Suresh Sippy, to mediation.
A bench of Justices B.P. Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla, on January 13, assigned retired Justice S.J. Kathawalla as the mediator, asking for a report within four weeks. The court was hearing Ramesh Sippy’s appeal challenging a single-judge order against him.
The dispute centers on Ramesh Sippy’s claim to a 1/5th share in a flat on Altamount Road, South Mumbai, and 500 shares of Sippy Films Pvt. Ltd., which includes the rights to 27 films. In April 2024, the High Court had dismissed his application regarding these claims. Flats 5/A and 5/B in the building were merged, with his nephews occupying the premises.
While the mediation is ongoing, the court has directed all parties not to sell, transfer, or create any third-party rights in the disputed flat. “If the mediation fails, this Court will then consider the aforesaid reliefs,” the bench stated, adjourning the matter to February 14.
Ramesh Sippy, the last surviving sibling among four brothers and one sister, filed the suit in 2023 against his sister-in-law and nine nephews and nieces. He also included Sippy Films and two film distribution companies as respondents, seeking rights to flat 5/B and the films. Earlier, in 2012, Sippy filed a separate suit for flat 5/A in the same building, alleging his nephews were unlawfully enjoying the family’s assets.
He contended he learned in 2013 about a 2007 will made by his father, G.P. Sippy, favoring his mother, Mohini Sippy, and her 2009 will favoring Suresh Sippy. The filmmaker claimed he only discovered in November 2022 that Suresh Sippy had filed a relinquishment will in 2016. These discoveries prompted him to pursue legal action. The court hopes mediation will resolve the long-standing family conflict.
