SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2014 Supreme(Bom) 278

In the High Court of Bombay at Aurangabad
K.U. CHANDIWAL, J.
Pankaj Yashwant Chaudhari & Others
Versus
The Joint Charity Commissioner & Others
First Appeal Nos. 1633 of 2012, 1728 of 2012 & Civil Application Nos. 10457, 11127 of 2012
Decided On : 05-02-2014

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellants:V.D. Hon h/f. A.V. Hon, P.M. Shah, Senior Counsel h/f. S.P. Shah, Advocates.
For the Respondents:R.P. Phatke, AGP, R6, M.S. Deshmukh, R7, R8, R10, R13, R14, R.R. Mantri, R12, P.S. Paranjape, R16, J.R. Shah, R1 & R8, V.J. Dixit, Senior Counsel h/f. S.B. Yawalkar, Advocates.

Headnote:Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 - Section 47 - Enquiry under. - Held, appointment of trustees by Joint Charity Commissioner without conducting enquiry contemplated under Section 47 of Act, improper and unjustified. The Jt. C.C., Nashik was expected while sitting in the proceedings under Section 47 of Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 to take care to safeguard interest of the trust as such. Without assessment and availability of evidence, the Jt. C.C. was not expected to merely act on dotted lines of application moved by ’A’ and his group. He was expected atleast to browse the contents of the application and names of such contenders. ’A’ and his wife were two applicants, ’S’ is his brother, ’U’ is his sister-in-law, while ’D’ is also in his relations. The Jt. C.C. was expected to know what was the interest evolved to these persons when they reside away from Chimthane. They were not students of the school, nor they had, any time in past, visited the said place. ’A’ himself claiming to be a social worker by itself would not qualify him for the post of trustee of educational trust. No enquiry as contemplated under the provisions is taken care, they are not even ordinary members of the trust, still few of them were appointed as trustees.

       The Jt. C.C. did not advert to any finding as to what made him to accept claims of the respective applicants from application. At one stage, the Jt. C.C. has recorded that the intervenors have no locus with activities of trust. He has gone to the stage of recording that the intervenors have not deposited costs inspite of opportunity given to them. These observations of the learned Jt. C.C. calls for interference.

       Section 47(2) contemplate a hearing to be given to the parties and making such enquiry as the Jt. C.C. may deem fit, then he may appoint any person as trustee. Sub-clause (3) of Section 47 contemplate precautionary measures to be taken for such exercise. Clause (a) deals with wishes of the authors of that trust; clause (b) speaks of wishes of the persons, if any, empowered to appoint new trust; clause (c) contemplate to the question, whether appointment will promote or impede the execution of the trust; clause (d), to the interest of the public or section of public, who have interest in the trust; clause (e), to the custom and usage of the trust.

       Law requires, for every such action, which is judicial in its character, reasons are emergent. Reasons are live link between the set up of the authority and the factual matrix. In the absence of adequate reasons for particular action, such appointment or order becomes farce and operate detrimental to the interest of the trust and the persons, who are interested in upkeeping of the trust. Recording of reasons is a part of fair procedure. Indeed, record substitute subjectivity with objectivity and if, a person has to challenge such reasons, he has opportunity to deal with the same.

       The Jt. C.C., basically did not bother to associate himself in tune with compliance of Section 47. He did not make requisite enquiry, nor heard the parties. It was alleged Shri ’S’ resides at Dhule and a Municipal Corporator, he has no direct or indirect association with trust. This has been ignored from consideration. He wrongly interpreted intervention application, to be not maintainable and then went on appointing two members from the said group as a forensic bonanza. He did not assign any reasons for appointment, even as President or Vice-President or Secretary or Executive Members. (Respective respondents in the appeal).

Judgment

1. Heard. Admit. By consent heard finally at admission stage. Record and proceedings received.

2. The appellants in Appeal No.1633/2012 filed Application No.11/2011 under section 47 of Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 for their appointment as trustees. Similar application was preferred by Arun Dattatraya Mahale and others being Application No. 9/2011 before Joint Charity Commissioner (for short 'Jt. C.C.') under section 47 of Bombay Public Trust Act. The appellants in First Appeal No.1728/2012 were intervenors in two applications referred above opposed Application Nos.9/2011 and 11/2011 and from their group, two persons were nominated as trustees by the Jt. C.C.

3. Grievance is, the Jt. C.C., Nashik Division, Nashik did not follow the procedure contemplated under section 47 of the Trust Act and based on assumptions and presumptions, entertained Application No.9/2011 with two intervenors in appointing trustees. The appellant - Vilas and others assert that they are native of village Chimthane, their ancestors were members and office bearers of trust, they are even ex-students of the school conducted by the trust, they are members of the trust since 1991 and they have natural affection and attachment towards trust, hence, they are personal interest in the trust.

FACTS :-

4. On 16.6.1982 the trust was registered under Bombay Public Trust Act, created under Memorandum of Association, prepared by founder Members. The Memorandum of Association provides for constitution of two bodies for management namely General Body and Managing Committee. The General Body consist of members, who provided financial assistance to the trust as provided in Clause (4) of Memorandum of Association. The Managing Committee was to be of 12 persons, they were to be elected from General Body.

5. The common grievance of the appellants is, 7 out of 10 newly appointed trustees have no concern or interest with the trust, they are resident of Dhule and other parts, no concern with well being of the school or the trust and village Chimthane. It is alleged, these 7 trustees are themselves politicians or family members of local politicians from Dhule, who desire to have control over all social activities in district Dhule by grabbing several trusts.

6. Mr. V.D. Hon, learned counsel for appellants says, by reading the order under challenge no safeguards under section 47 of Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 are followed, no procedure as contemplated is seen to have been followed. From the list of appointed persons namely Ananta Barka Chaudhari and Himmat Daga Patil, who have not applied, but still they are appointed by impugned order. Without any justification, the Application bearing No.11/2011 is rejected, solely on the ground that grandfather of Pankaj Yashwant Chaudhari was removed as a trustees under section 41-D of Trust Act. He says, whatever misdeed, having done in past by grandfather of Pankaj Chaudhari, cannot be branded to eclipse Pankaj Chaudhari from trustee.

7. Mr. P.M. Shah, learned Senior Counsel for appellants in F.A. No.1728/2012 pointed out effect of section 47, which contemplate, any person interested in public trust will inclusive in definition of 'any Member of such society'. The persons who had applied (who have been nominated as trustees) have no interest in the trust. There were no reasons or special cause for learned Jt. C.C. to nominate Shri. Arun Dattatraya Mahale, solely on the ground that he is social worker, but, it should have been considered that he hails from Dhule, his background or none of the other trustees' background was verified to show that how they have got interest in upliftment of the trust. He has criticized the judgment of the Jt. C.C. on the ground that no proper reasons are assigned for nominating the trustees. The intervention application is erroneously dealt with. Inspite of depositing cost on 1st March 2012, the learned Jt. C.C. recorded, it is not deposited. This is factual incorrect assumption. The appellants' intent is ga


































Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top