IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
D.R. Dhanuka, J.
Poulad Deochand Patil.... Petitioner
Versus
Samasta Aher Nhavi Panch Trust and another.... Respondents.
Writ Petition No. 3464 of 1980, decided on 27-11-1991.
Advocates appeared :
R.V. Desai for the petitioner.
M.V. Suli. for respondent No. 1.
While granting said certificate affected tenants lands are entitled to be heard in the enquiry by collector on the question as to whether the trust satisfied the conditions of eligibility or not.
Section 88-B (1) (b) & (2)-Lands belonging to public trust for educational purpose and other purpose specified in section 88- B (1).
Exemption from certain provisions of Act-Condition for-Possession of certificate issued by Collector under section 88-B (2)- Not a must-Civil court not precluded in law from considering question as to whether trust satisfied requisite condition or not for exemption.
2. The crucial facts required to be stated for disposal of this petition are as under :-
(a) The petitioner claims to be the tenant of the land in question described in paragraph 1 of the petition ever since 1948. The land in question is described in the petition as land bearing Survey No. 102 admeasuring 4 hectares and 6 Ares (10 acres and 1 guntha) (PK-O-15) assessed at Rs. 13-2-0 situate at Village Chinode, Taluka Taloda, District Dhule.
(b) On 28th August, 1953, a Trust known as Shri Samasta Aher Nhavi Panch trust (respondent No. 1 herein) was duly registered as a Public Trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. The 1st respondent Trust claims to be a tenant engaged in educational activities.
(c) On 4th December, 1959, the 2nd respondent-District Deputy Collector issued a certificate in favour of the 1st respondent- Trust under section 88-B of the Tenancy Act. A copy of the said certificate is Exhibit 'A' to the petition. Section 88-B(1) of the Tenancy Act provides that the lands which are the property of a Trust for an educational purpose and other purpose specified therein are exempted from certain provisions of the Tenancy Act. The conditions of such exemption prescribed by the Tenancy Act are as under :-
(i) Such Trust is or is deemed to be registered to be registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950, and
(ii) The entire income of such lands is appropriated for the purposes of such trust."
Sub-section (2) of the said section 88-B reads as under :-
"88B. (2) For the purposes of this section, a certificate granted by the Collector, after holding an inquiry, that the conditions in the provision to sub-section (1) are satisfied by any trust shall be conclusive evidence in that behalf."
(Emphasis supplied)
(d) It is case of the 1st respondent-Trust that the 1st respondent has always satisfied both prescribed conditions of exemption. On the basis of the said averment and after receiving the said certificate of exemption under section 88-B(2) of the Tenancy Act, the respondent No. 1 has filed Regular Civil Suit No. 28 of 1979 in the Court of the Civil Judge, Junior Division, Taloda, for eviction of the petitioner-tenant from the said land. The petitioner contends that the petition land belonging to the 1st respondent-Trust is not exempted from the relevant provisions of the Tenancy Act, as according to the petitioner the abovereferred two conditions are not satisfied by the 1st respondent-Trust. The petitioner also contends that the impugned certificate dated 4th December 1959 cannot be relied upon by the respondent No.1 in the said Civil Suit and the same deserves to be quashed, as no show cause notice was issued by the District Deputy Collector to the petitioner-tenant before issuing the said certificate and the principles of natural justice were thus violated by the said authority. In the light of these contentions, the petitioner has filed this writ petition. The petition was filed in September, 1980. The petition was admitted and all further proceeding in Regular Civil Suit No. 28 of 1979 were staved by this Court. It is unfortunate that the petition has remained pending for so many years.
3. The petitioner-tenant has averred in the petition
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.