1999 Supreme(Bom) 113
IN THE HIGH COURT OF BOMBAY
(AURANGABAD BENCH)
S.B. Mhase, J.
Shree Bhairavanath Devasthan, trust,
through its trustee and priest others..... Petitioners.
Versus
Bajaba Nathu Pathare others..... Respondents.
Civil Revision Application No. 628 of 1990, decided on 16-2-1999.
Advocates appeared :
R.N. Dhorde, for the petitioners.
V.S. Bedre, for respondents No. 1 2.
Headnote:Sections 50 and 51-Trust property.-In this suit was filed by trustees against third party or trespassers it was held that permission regarding the matter under Section 51 s not required.
Section 56-B-Suit by trustee.-In this case it was held that suit filed by trustee against third party / trespasser would not be maintainable under Section 51 of the Act.
2. This Civil Revision Application arises from the Regular Civil Suit No. 179 of 1983 filed by the present petitioners. The plaint in the said suit has been returned to the petitioners by order dated 7-10-1983 passed by the Civil Judge, Junior Division, Parner. The said order of return of plaint was challenged by filing Regular Civil Appeal No. 321 of 1983, which is dismissed by the 2nd Additional District Judge at Ahmednagar on 25-7-1989. In the result, the order of the trial Court was confirmed.
3. Before we proceed to consider the controversy, one more fact is required to be stated that the respondents Nos. 1 and 2 have also filed a Regular Civil Suit No. 168 of 1983 against the trustees of Bhairavnath Devasthan. That suit was also returned by the trial Court. The trial Court has passed common order in respect of both the suits returning the plaint on a ground that both the suits are the suits under section 50 of the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950 and, therefore, the permission under section 51 is required and, therefore, returned the plaints. It is further interesting to note that the trial Court directed the parties to remain present before the District Judge on 31-10-1083. It requires to be noticed that the respondents Nos. 1 and 2 who have filed Regular Civil Suit No. 168 of 1983 and which was returned along with Regular Civil Suit No. 179 of 1983, as stated earlier, have not obtained the permission under section 50 and have not filed a suit in the District Court after the return of the plaint. Not only that, but the order dated 7-10-1983 was not challenged by the respondents Nos. 1 and 2 so far as the Regular Civil Suit No. 168 of 1983 is concerned and, therefore, the order to the extent of Regular Civil Suit No. 168 of 1983 has obtained a finality. In the present matter, therefore, this Court is only concerned with the legality and validity of the orders passed by the Civil Judge, Junior Division, Parner and the 2nd Additional District Judge, Ahmednagar, qua the Regular Civil Suit No. 179 of 1983 only.
4. The learned Counsel Shri R.N. Dhorde appearing for the petitioners/plaintiffs submitted that the observations made by both the courts below are misconceived and not in accordance with law. He submitted that the petitioners are the trustees and those trustees who were not available for signing the plaint have been joined as parties to the suit as defendants No. 4 to 8 and the suit is mainly as against the defendants No. 1 to 3, namely the respondents No. 1 to 3 in the present revision petition. He stated that the case of the plaintiffs is that the respondents No. 1 to 3 have no concern what-so-ever with the trust property. However, they have unauthorisedly obstructed the enjoyment of the trust property. In short, the suit is as against the third party who are obstructing the plaintiffs and, therefore, he says that the provisions of section 50 of the Bombay Public Trusts Act are not applicable. He relied upon 1992(2) Bom.C.R. 22 (Amirchand v. Vasant)1 and submitted that this Court has held that whenever the suit is against the trespasser, the permission under section 51 is not necessary. He also relied upon 1986 Mh.L.J. 773 (V.K.M.S.S. v. M.F.S.S.)2 and contended that whenever the suit is otherwise than section 50, such suit has to be filed in ordinary forum and is not required to be instituted as defined in section 2(4) of the Bombay Public Trusts Act.
5. The learned Counsel for the respondent Mr. Bedre submitted that the District Judge has properly considered the provisions of law and has decided that the permission is necessary and, therefore, the order of return of plaint is proper and just. He also invited the attention of this Court to section 56-B of the Bombay Public Trusts Act to point out the the Charity Commissioner is not party to the suit.