From heritage bungalow to diplomatic enclave: Jinnah’s 1936 Mumbai mansion set for a new chapter with “many internal changes”

South Court, the iconic bungalow built by Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1936 on Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, is all set for a major restoration project. Commonly known as Jinnah House, the 2.5-acre heritage property is awaiting final clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), TOI has reported.

According to TOI, the MEA plans to convert the elegant ground-plus-one villa into a diplomatic enclave. The Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) had already approved the restoration work in August 2023. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will carry out the project, with the Sir JJ College of Architecture appointed as the consultant.

Interestingly, Jinnah House was designed in the Art Deco style by Claude Batley, who was then the head of architecture at JJ School of Arts. Italian stonemasons had worked on the construction, which Jinnah personally supervised “brick by brick”.

What changes will be made?

The proposal, as seen by TOI, includes a change of use from residential to office space. Internal alterations will include removal of walls on the first floor to create larger rooms, reconstruction of the front staircase, repair of doors and windows, and restoration of fittings like chandeliers and original furniture.

A new RCC retaining wall will be built and landscaping will be done without disturbing the heritage elements. The heritage committee also suggested that the compound wall be reconstructed using stone, matching the original design.

Documents reviewed by TOI confirm that there are no plans to add new construction or change the external structure. However, “many internal aesthetic changes” may be made to reflect India's national identity, history and culture.

A building with deep history

Jinnah House, classified as “evacuee property” since Partition, has a fascinating past. In his memoirs, Sri Prakasa, India’s first High Commissioner to Pakistan, recalled Jinnah’s emotional words about the bungalow:
“Tell Jawaharlal not to break my heart. I built it brick by brick. What fine verandahs. It is a small house fit only for a small European family or a refined Indian prince. You do not know how I love Bombay.”

After Independence, the bungalow was briefly used by the UK’s deputy high commissioner in 1949.

The spacious home includes a large verandah, multiple rooms on both floors, a kitchen, garage, store rooms and servant quarters. Despite its charm, the building has fallen into disrepair over the years.

Legal history

Dina Wadia, Jinnah’s daughter and mother of industrialist Nusli Wadia, moved the Bombay High Court in 2007 seeking possession of the house. After her death, Nusli Wadia was allowed to continue the legal fight.

In 2018, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) approved transferring the property to the MEA from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said the bungalow would be restored along the lines of Hyderabad House in Delhi.

All permissions are reportedly in place, and the MEA is now waiting for the final nod from the Centre to begin work.

Inputs from TOI