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Himachal Pradesh High Court · body
1990 DIGILAW 9 (HP)
GIAN CHAND v. HARBANS SINGH
1990-03-07
BHAWANI SINGH
body1990
JUDGMENT Bhawani Singh, J.—This revision petition assails the order of District Judge, Una, in Civil Misc, Application No. 47 of 1989, thereby dismissing the application of the petitioners under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure for permission to sue for the removal of existing trustees of a public charitable trust. 2. Briefly the case is that an application under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure was moved for the removal of the present trustees of the alleged charitable trust consisting of a Serai (Inn), Well and Chhabil (a stall for serving cold water to the travellers) situate in village Amb, District Una. It is-alleged that one Udham Singh son of Partap Singh, resident of village Amb constructed a Inn, dug a Well and set-up a Chhabil on the land comprised in Khasra Nos. 1809, 1810, 1811 and 1941 situate in village Amb, District Una, sometime in the year 1927-28. During the lifetime of Udham Singh, he himself was the trustee and upon his death, his two wives, namely, Smt. Barnial and Smt. Bijjarwal became the trustees. On their death, Smt. Balwant Devi, daughter of one of those widows, namely, Bijjarwal, became the trustee. She also died on November 7, 1980, where after, the respondents No. 1 to 6, being her sons, came in possession of the property of the trust. Further, the case is that initially the land was recorded as Shamlat Deh in the revenue papers. With the enforcement of the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, the Gram Panchayat was recorded as its owner in the revenue papers. Thereafter, on the commencement of the Himachal Pradesh Village Common Lands (Vesting and Utilization) Act, 1974, the name of the State of Himachal Pradesh was recorded as owner. 3. It is stated that the respondents, after coming in possession of the property, started demolishing the Inn and in its place shops are being constructed. The applicants further alleged that this act of the respondents amounts to misappropriation of the trust property and, therefore, they are liable to be removed from the trusteeship. With this end in view, an application under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure was moved which has been contested by the respondents. Respondents No. 1 to 6, while opposing the application, have stated that the property was their private property and was inherited as such.
With this end in view, an application under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure was moved which has been contested by the respondents. Respondents No. 1 to 6, while opposing the application, have stated that the property was their private property and was inherited as such. It has also been stated that the applicants have no interest in the alleged trust and, therefore, they have no focus-standi to sue or even to ask for permission to sue. 4. In the application, the petitioners say that they have locus-standi to do so since they belong to Rajput community and have interest in the trust. Kashmir Singh, one of the applicants, goes further than this and state that he is related to Udham Singh so on this ground as well, he is interested in the trust. 5. After hearing the parties, and referring to Mahant Harnam Singh v. Cur dial Singh and another, AIR 19o7 SC 1415 and P. Sivagurunatha Pillai and another v. P. Manx Pillai AIR 1984 Madras 328, the District Judge rejected the application. It has been observed in the order that the petitioner may belong to the same caste but that does not mean that they have interest in the trust property. Regarding Kashmir Singh also it has been said that even if he has some relation with Udham Singh that also was of no consequence. 6. These findings have been challenged before this Court by the petitioners. Miss Bandna Lakhanpal has very ably and strenuously contended that the order of the District Judge is palpably wrong. She also contends that the reliance on certain judicial decisions by the learned District Judge was also wrong since the facts of this case are entirely different, besides, there is a sea-change in the judicial decisions which have not only bearing in the present case but are also later in point of time. She has placed reliance on Chenchu Rami Reddy and another v. Government of Andhra Pradesh and others, 1986 (3) SCC 391. In this decision, the following observations of the Supreme Court are worth quoting:— "More often than not detriment to what belongs to many’ collectively, does not cause pangs to any for no one is personally hurt directly. That is why public officials and public-minded citizens entrusted with the care of public property have to show exemplary vigilance.
In this decision, the following observations of the Supreme Court are worth quoting:— "More often than not detriment to what belongs to many’ collectively, does not cause pangs to any for no one is personally hurt directly. That is why public officials and public-minded citizens entrusted with the care of public property have to show exemplary vigilance. What is true of public property is equally true of property belonging to religious or charitable institutions or endowments. The facts of the present case involving the sale of lands which have been sanctioned to be sold for about Rs. 20 lakhs by private negotiations, instead of by public auction, which the appellants are prepared to purchase for about Rs. 80 lakhs," illustrate (sic) this point in a telling manner." Again in para 10, the Court observed as under:— "We cannot conclude without observing that property of such institutions or endowments must be jealously protected. It must be protected, for, a large segment of the community has beneficial interest in it (that is the raison detre of the Act itself). The authorities exercising the powers under the Act must not only be most alert and vigilant in such matters but also show awareness of the ways of the present day world as also the ugly realities of the world of today. They cannot afford to take things at their face value or make a less than the closest—and best—attention approach to guard against all pit falls. The approving authority must be aware that in such matters the trustees, pr persons authorised to sell by private negotiations, can, in a given case, enter into a secret or invisible underhand deal or understanding with the purchasers at the cost of the concerned institution. Those who are willing to purchase by private negotiations can also bid at a public auction. Why would they feel shy or be deterred from bidding at a public auction ? Why then permit sale by private negotiations which will not be visible to the public eye and may even give rise to public suspicion unless there are special reasons to justify doing so ? And care must be taken to fix a reserve price after ascertaining the market value for the sake of safe-guarding the interest of the endowment. With these words of caution we close the matter." 7.
And care must be taken to fix a reserve price after ascertaining the market value for the sake of safe-guarding the interest of the endowment. With these words of caution we close the matter." 7. Miss Bandna Lakhanpal further cited latest decision of the Supreme Court, namely, R. Venugopala Naidu and others v Venkatarayulu Naidu Charities and others, JT 1989 (4) SC 262. In this case, the apex court has very exhaustively dealt with the scope of section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure. It is quite clear from the decision that the principle of hocus-standi which was hitherto confined within certain rigid limits has been given a broad interpretation. After referring to certain decisions of the same Court, Justice Kuldip Singh speaking for the Court observed in .paras 9, 10 and 11 as under : — "9. The legal position which emerges is that a suit under section 92 of the Code is a suit of a special nature for the protection of Public rights in the Public Trusts and charities. The suit is fundamentally on behalf of the entire body of persons who are interested in the trust. It is for the vindication of public rights. The beneficiaries of the trust, which may consist of public at large, may choose two or more persons amongst themselves for the purpose of filing a suit under section 92 of the Code and the suit-title in that event would show only their names as plaintiffs. Can we say that the persons whose names are on the suit-title are, the only parties to the suit? The answer would be in the negative. The named plaintiffs being the representatives of the public-at-large which is interest in the trust all such interested persons would be considered in the eyes of law to be parties to the suit. A suit under section 92 of the Code is thus a representative suit and as such binds not only the parties named in the suit-title but ail those who are interested in the trust. It is for that reason that Explanation VI to section 1 of the Code constructively bar by res judicata the entire body of interested persons from reagitating the matters directly and substantially in issue in an earlier suit under section 92 of the Code. 10. Mr.
It is for that reason that Explanation VI to section 1 of the Code constructively bar by res judicata the entire body of interested persons from reagitating the matters directly and substantially in issue in an earlier suit under section 92 of the Code. 10. Mr. G. Ramaswamy, learned Counsel appearing for the respondent trust has argued that only the two persons who filed the original suit can be considered as parties in terms of clause 14 of the scheme-decree and according to him since the appellants were not the plaintiffs they have no locus-standi to file any application under clauses 13 and 14 of the scheme-decree. According to the learned Counsel section 92 of the Code brings out a dichotomy in the sense that there are parties to the suit and persons interested in the trust. According to him persons interested in the trust cannot be considered parties to the suit although the judgment/decree in the suit is binding on them. He has also argued that a suit under section 92 of the Civil Procedure Code is different from a suit filed under Order 1 Rule 8 of Civil Procedure Code. We do not agree with the learned Counsel. A suit whether under section 92 of Civil Procedure Code or under Order I Rule 8 of Civil Procedure Code is by the representatives of large number of persons who have a common interest. The very nature of a representative suit makes all those who have common interest in the suit as parties We, therefore, conclude that all persons who are interested in Venkatarayulu Naidu Charities which is admittedly a public trust are parties to the original suit and as such can exercise their rights under clauses 13 and 14 ©f scheme-decree dated September 9, 1910. 11. It is not necessary to go into the finding of the High Court that two of the appellants being muslims can have no interest in the trust as the other two appellants claim to be the beneficiaries of the trust and their claim has not been negatived. Moreover, the trust has been constituted to perform not only charities of a religious nature but also charities of a secular nature such as providing for drinking water and food for the general public without reference to caste or religion." 8.
Moreover, the trust has been constituted to perform not only charities of a religious nature but also charities of a secular nature such as providing for drinking water and food for the general public without reference to caste or religion." 8. In view of the latest trend of judicial decisions and with a view to protect the trust property from being annihilated by the trustees, it is always desirable that any right-spirited person may come forward and complain such an aggression in order to protect the trust property and carry on the wish of the person who may have created the same. Giving of locus-standi to such a person is all the more important, since violations of trust properties in recent years are becoming well-known. 9. In the present case, without touching the merit of the case, the respondents have gone even to the extent of saying that these properties do not belong to any trust and they are their private properties. In such a situation, the learned District Judge should have allowed the application to enable the petitioners to pursue the matter further. 10. The result of the aforesaid discussion is that there is merit in this revision petition and the same is allowed and the order of the District Judge Una, dated June 3, 1989, is set aside. The application of the petitioners is allowed, The District Judge, Una, is directed to proceed in the matter in accordance with law. Parties are left to bear their own costs. Revision petition allowed.[ 1990 DIGILAW 9 (HP) · digilaw.ai ]