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2023 Supreme(Bom) 736

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY BENCH AT NAGPUR
Anil S. Kilor, J.
Smt. Lalita Panjabrao Phalke and ors. - Appellants
Versus
Shri Jeevan Tulshiram Phalke and ors. - Respondents
Second Appeal No. 191 of 20 11 with Second Appeal No. 192 of 2011
Decided On : 03-05-2023

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellant :Shri Sunil V. Manohar, Sr.Advocate a/b. Shri A.A.Naik, Advocate and Shri Y.N.Sambre, Advocate
For the Respondent:Shri B.H.Shambharkar, Advocate & Shri S.D.Chande, Advocate

The main legal point established in the judgment is that the directions issued by the Joint Charity Commissioner to enroll new members were without jurisdiction and in violation of Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India.

Headnote:

JUDGMENT : Charity Commissioner Jurisdiction - Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 - Section 41D - [Charity Commissioner Jurisdiction] - [Trust Change Reports] - [Section 41D] - The court allowed the appeal, quashed the judgment and order dated 30/08/2003, and confirmed the judgment and order dated 28/04/2008, holding that the directions issued by the Joint Charity Commissioner to enroll new members were without jurisdiction and in violation of Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India. The court also rejected Change Report No.1176 of 2003 and allowed Change Report No.788 of 2000.

Fact of the Case:

The present appeals arose from the decision allowing Change Report No.1176 of 2003 and rejecting Change Report No.788 of 2000 of a Trust established in 1968. The appeals challenged the judgment and order dated 28/04/2011 passed by the District Judge-14, Nagpur, and the judgment and order dated 30/08/2003 passed by the Joint Charity Commissioner in Application No. 6 of 1995.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the directions to enroll new members issued by the Joint Charity Commissioner were without jurisdiction and in violation of Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India. The court also confirmed the judgment and order dated 28/04/2008, rejecting Change Report No.788 of 2000 and rejecting Change Report No.1176 of 2003.

Issues: The court addressed the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioner under Section 41D of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950, and the legality of the directions to enroll new members and hold elections.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the directions issued by the Joint Charity Commissioner to enroll new members were without jurisdiction and in violation of Article 19(1)(c) of the Constitution of India. The court also confirmed the rejection of Change Report No.788 of 2000 and rejected Change Report No.1176 of 2003.

Final Decision: The court allowed the appeals, quashed the judgment and order dated 30/08/2003, confirmed the judgment and order dated 28/04/2008, and rejected Change Report No.1176 of 2003 while allowing Change Report No.788 of 2000.

JUDGMENT :

1. Leave to amend the prayer clause of Second Appeal No.191 of 2011 is granted. The amendment be carried out forthwith.

2. Heard.

3. The present appeals arise out of the decision allowing the Change Report No.1176 of 2003 and rejecting the Change Report No.788 of 2000 of a Trust viz. Chandrakant Shikshan Sanstha, Telkamptee, District : Nagpur, which was established in the year 1968.

4. Under Section 41D of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (hereinafter referred to as the “Act of 1950”) a proceeding came to be initiated for suspension, removal and dismissal of President and Secretary of the above referred trust.

5. In the said proceedings namely Application No.6 of 1995 the Joint Charity Commissioner passed a judgment and order on 30/08/2003 holding that the charges against the trustees namely Punjabrao Phalke and Madhukarrao Phalke, Secretary and President, respectively, have not been proved and therefore, the application under Section 41D of the Act of 1950 was dismissed. However, it was directed to enroll new general body members by calling applications by making paper publication.

6. The above referred directions to enroll members, came to be challenged in Writ Petition No.946 of 2004 and in the meantime the paper publication was made, in response to which 44 applications were received and accordingly membership of 41 members was confirmed.

7. Thereafter, elections were held, in which new managing body was elected. Accordingly, the Change Report No.1176 of 2003 was filed.

8. The another Change Report No.788 of 2003 was filed as Shri M.M.Phalke, Shri M.A. Suke and Sau. S.M.Phalke tendered their resignations which were accepted and as Shri Gawali had expired, the vacancies occurred because of the same, were filled in by passing a resolution in general body meeting dated 24/02/2002.

9. The Change Report No.1176 of 2003 was rejected by the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Nagpur vide judgment and order dated 28/04/2008. The same was carried in the appeal under Section 70 of the Act of 1950 by the respondent. The said appeal No.17 of 2008 came to be decided by the Joint Charity Commissioner, Nagpur vide judgment and order dated 30/11/2010, reversing the judgment and order of the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Nagpur dated 28/04/2008 and thereby accepting the Change Report No.1176 of 2003. The appellant then approached to the learned District Judge, Nagpur by filing Regular Civil Application No. 34 of 2010 under Section 72(1) of the Act of 1950. The learned District Judge, vide impugned judgment and order dated 28/04/2011, dismissed the said application confirming the judgment and order of the Joint Charity Commissioner, Nagpur dated 30/11/2010. Second Appeal No. 192 of 2011 is arising out of the said judgment and order dated 28/04/2011 passed by the District Judge-14, Nagpur in Regular Civil Application No.34 of 2010.

10. Similarly, Change Report No.788 of 2000 was accepted by the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Nagpur vide judgment and order dated 28/04/2008. The same was carried in appeal under Section 70 of the Act of 1950 by the respondent. The said Appeal No.13 of 2008 came to be decided by the Joint Charity Commissioner, Nagpur vide judgment and order dated 30/11/2010, reversing the judgment and order of the Assistant Charity Commissioner, Nagpur dated 28/04/2008 and thereby rejecting the Change Report No.788 of 2000. The appellants then approached the learned District Judge, Nagpur by filing Regular Civil Application No. 32 of 2010 under Section 72(1) of the Act of 1950. The learned District Judge, vide impugned judgment and order dated 28/04/2011, dismissed the said Regular Civil Application No.32 of 2010 confirming the judgment and order of the Joint Charity Commissioner, Nagpur dated 30/11/2010. Second Appeal No. 191 of 2011 is arising out of the said judgment and order dated 28/04/2011 passed by the District Judge-14, Nagpur.

11. After filing of these second appeals the Writ Petition 946 of 2004 came up for hear

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