The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition from a Mumbai resident that challenged the renovation approvals for Mannat, the well-known seaside bungalow owned by actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan. The court emphasized that homeowners have the right to renovate their properties as long as they comply with legal requirements.
The petitioner argued that necessary approvals, including those related to environmental regulations, were not properly obtained for the renovation project. Senior counsel Shoaib Alam, representing the petitioner, insisted that the project required clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, especially since it involves spending over Rs 5 crores.
During the hearing, the court questioned the motive behind the petition. Chief Justice Surya Kant pointed out that Mannat is a private home, and its owners are allowed to make changes as long as they follow the law. The petitioner’s request to send the case back to the National Green Tribunal was rejected by the Supreme Court, which clarified that a person’s celebrity status does not influence legal proceedings.
Previously, the National Green Tribunal had already dismissed an appeal against the environmental and coastal approvals for the bungalow’s renovation. The Tribunal had determined that the project adhered to environmental guidelines, enabling the renovation work to proceed.
The controversy arose from Gauri Khan’s plan to add two additional floors to an annex building at Mannat. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the expansion appears to be on track without any further obstacles.
