However, Wadia has contended that her father’s will was not probated by the Bombay High Court and therefore had no effect on any operation of law. Fatima, therefore, could not be the legal owner and so the house should be handed over to his legal heir, Wadia said in the petition.

The property, said to be worth hundreds of crores, was let out to the British Deputy High Commission in 1949 by the state government. The house was acquired by the Union of India in 1955.

The British Deputy High Commission moved out of the house in 1982 and a claim was made by the Pakistani Government that the structure be handed over to them as it is of “sentimental value”.

The house has been lying vacant ever since and was handed over to the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) in 1997.