In what may also be seen as a huge setback for Subhash Ghai in his court battle over the disputed land occupied by his thriving Whistling Woods Film Institute, the Supreme Court has dismissed Ghai's plea against the sooner Bombay High Court Order.
The Bombay High court had ordered Whistling Woods International film institute to go back 14.5 acres of land of land at Film City Mumbai which was allotted to a partnership company Whistling Woods Ltd. The honourable Court had ordered the closing down of the Institute by 2014 after paying Rs. 54 cr as lease rent for 20 acres land since 2000 ...Whistling Woods had filed SLP to supreme court for stay and justice."
After the High Court judgment Ghai had said, "Whistling Woods Ltd is a partnership company with three way partnership agreement in 2000 between the govt. of Maharashtra corporation MFSCDCL [Film City] and Mukta Arts Ltd by which 20 acres land in film city Mumbai was only allotted to make use of Film City land to construct an international class educational complex with multimedia activities as per the aims and objects of Film City. We have now used only 5.5 acres to construct Whistling Woods International that is declared a top ten world-class film institute."
After the Supreme Court's judgment against Ghai's plea, he says, "I respect the judiciary of my country. The Supreme Court has dismissed our appeal because the Maharashtra government must have followed the correct governance to go into right into a three way partnership before running a college in Film City."
Maintaining his dignity under the blow just received to his dream venture, Ghai said, "I GUESS one need to be cautious while coping with the State Government in place of being penalized after ten years when heavy investment and losses are involved."
Subhash Ghai was the primary private entrepreneur from Mumbai, Maharashtra since Dada Saheb Phalke who came forward with an offer to open a large filmmaking school and a movie library in Mumbai in 1993. The proposal was made to the federal government of Maharashtra (Chief Minister Sudhakar Naik) for the approaching generation of artiste and technicians. Subhash Ghai's application was pursued by all consequent governments, and he personally appraised them about his vision. He was appreciated and got assurance from all of the governments and other leaders who assured their full support. Finally in 2000, Subhash Ghai presented his master plan to the federal government of Maharashtra."
Says Ghai with a smile, "Whistling Woods will go on as brightly as before. Though we may miss the land, land is rarely the strength behind education. Rather it is the opposite direction around. We're opening branches of Whistling Woods in lots of states. My production house Mukta Arts may be carrying at the movie-production business full-steam ahead."
As for the Supreme Court's judgment, Ghai says, "WE CAN discuss our future plan of action with our team of lawyers and stay up for the Government's reaction to the honourable Supreme Court's judgment."
