IMPORTANT POINT
A resolution by the general body of a public trust to modify its rules is effective even if the change report is pending approval, and the validity of elections held under such modified rules is contingent upon the outcome of any appeals regarding those modifications.

JUDGMENT/ORDER

MANGESH S.PATIL, J. - We have heard both the sides.

2. Rule. Rule is made returnable forthwith. At the joint request of the parties, the matter is being disposed of finally at the stage of admission.

3. The petitioners who are the members of the respondents nos. 3 and 4 - Education Society registered as a public trust under the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (Act) are questioning the legality and validity of the order passed by the Deputy Charity Commissioner, Jalgaon in a proceeding under Sec. 41-A of the Act whereby they were seeking a direction for better administration of the trust for holding fresh elections to be held in accordance with the approved rules of elections of the trust.

4. The basic bone of contention of Mr. Deshmukh learned advocate appearing on behalf of the petitioners is that a general body of the trust had resolved to modify the rules of elections in a meeting held on 10/3/2019 inter alia modifying rule 22-A which provided a particular manner of voting should be undertaken at the election for electing managing committee. He would submit that change report no. 734 of 2019 was pending. It was partly allowed except the modification in rule 22-A. One Gokul Bhika Patil had approached this Court in writ petition no. 296 of 2022 raising an objection to the conduct of elections and this Court had passed the following order on 11/2/2022 :-

"10. Considering now the further steps of elections are being conducted, we pass the following order :- ORDER (i) The voting scheduled on 13/2/2022 may be held, however, the results of the elections shall not be declared unless the orders are passed on Change Application No.734/2019 by the office of the Deputy Charity Commissioner, Jalgaon.

(ii) The Deputy Charity Commissioner, Jalgaon shall endeavour to decide the said Change Application no. 734/2019 within one month. (iii) The petitioner and respondent nos. 2 and 3 shall appear before the office of the Deputy Charity Commissioner, Jalgaon on 17/2/2022.

(iv) The further steps in the elections may be conducted in tune with the orders that may be passed in Change Application No.734/2019.

(v) Needless to state, we have not observed anything on merits of the amendment of the bye-laws. It is for the office of the Deputy Charity Commissioner to take decision on its own merits. (vi) The writ petition is disposed of. No costs. (vii) Authenticated copy be given."

The learned advocate would submit that in spite of such a direction, the elections have been held ignoring the fact that rule 22-A was not approved of and the election is void ab initio. He would submit that even if the petitioners can raise this dispute in a change report to be filed pursuant to such election when the election has been held in the afore-mentioned facts and circumstances, the circumstances would go to the root of the validity of the election and the learned Deputy Charity Commissioner ought to have issued directions in the light of the enabling provision contained in Sec. 41-A of the Act directing a fresh election for the better administration.

5. Mr. Deshmukh would rely upon decisions of this Court in the matter of Sthanakwasi Jain Sangh, Shrirampur V. Deepak Hukumchand Duggad; AIR Online 2020 Bom 2013 and the decision of the learned Single Judge of Gujarat High Court in the matter of Rashmikant Chhaganbhai Patel V. Joint Charity Commissioner, Vadodara and others; AIR 2006 GUJARAT 9.

6. Per contra, Mr. Brahme would submits that already this Court had an occasion to consider the peculiar facts and circumstances in a writ petition filed by one Kalyan Sahebrao Patil bearing writ petition no. 6711 of 2022 decided on 22/11/2022. The earlier decision in writ petition no. 296 of 2022 dtd. 11/2/2022 (supra) was also brought to the notice of this Court. He would point out that when admittedly the decision in the change application no. 734 of 2019 discarding clause 22-A is a subject matter of the statutory appeal before the Joint Charity Commissioner, this Co