IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
C. Hari Shankar, J.
Delhi Amateur Wushu Association - Appellant
Versus
Wushu Association Of India & Ors. - Respondents
CM(M) 1023 of 2022 & CM Appl. 42239 of 2022
Decided On : 23-09-2022
Elections - Dispute over representation of association - Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Section 151, Article 227 of the Constitution of India - CM (M) 374/2019 - CS SCJ 78/2018 - Para 4 of the order dated 10th October 2019 - Elections to be held after obtaining orders of the Trial court and with independent supervision
Fact of the Case:
Dispute over representation of Delhi Amateur Wushu Association (DAWA) led to a request for elections. The learned Civil Judge allowed the elections to be conducted under independent supervision as ordered by the Hon'ble Delhi High court.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that there was no legal interdiction on holding elections till the issues in controversy were finalized. The petitioner was reserved the liberty to challenge the elections or the outcome thereof by all means known to law.
Issues: Dispute over representation of association, legality of holding elections before finalizing the pending issues
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that elections could be conducted under independent supervision as ordered by the Hon'ble Delhi High court, and there was no legal interdiction on holding elections till the issues in controversy were finalized.
Final Decision: The petition was dismissed with the petitioner reserved the liberty to challenge the elections or the outcome thereof by all means known to law.
JUDGMENT
(Oral)
1. This petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India assails order dated 20th September 2022, passed by the learned Civil Judge in CS SCJ 78/2018 (Delhi Amateur Wushu Association v. Wushu Association of India). By the said order, the learned Civil Judge has adjudicated on an application filed by Respondents 3 and 4, as Defendants 3 and 4 in the suit, under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC). The application was stated to have been filed in accordance with para 4 of the order passed by a coordinate Bench of this Court on 10th October 2019 in CM (M) 374/2019 (The General Secretary, Delhi Amateur Wushu Association (Genuine/Elected Dawa) v. The General Secretary, Delhi Amateur Wushu Association (Non Elected/Fake Dawa)).
2. CM (M) 374/2019, in which the aforesaid order dated 10th October 2019 came to be passed by this Court, challenged order dated 28th November 2018, passed by the learned Civil Judge in an application under Section 151 CPC, in which it was directed thus:
'An application has been filed on behalf of the plaintiff under Section 151 CPC for passing necessary direction to defendant no. 1 to conduct joint Trial of the players selected by the plaintiff and the players selected by defendant no. 3 & 4 at the venue for the 17th Junior National WUSHU Championship at Tamilnadu. Heard on the application. The counsel for the defendants submitted that he has received the copies today itself and he wants to file a reply to the said application. The alleged championship is to be held on 1st to 6th December at Tamilnadu. The counsel for the defendants has shown the copy of railway tickets which have already been booked for the players for travel on 29.11.2018.
This court is of the view that there is very less time left for the conduct of joint trial as prayed by the plaintiff and it may not be feasible at the venue and there is likelihood of injury in the trial which would disadvantage the players which are already selected. Thus, this court is not inclined to allow the application at this last hour.
Before parting this order, to obviate the future controversy between the parties regarding the trial, it is hereby ordered that defendant no. 1 WAI shall conduct the trial for all the upcoming national championships of the list of players provided by plaintiff and the list of players provided by the defendant no. 3 & 4, till the disposal of the present suit......'
3. This Court has, in the order dated 10th October 2019, noted the fact that there was a dispute as to the party who was entitled to represent Delhi Amateur Wushu Association (DAWA). That issue, notes the order, would be decided by the learned Civil Judge after the pleadings are completed. The order maintains the arrangement put in place by the order dated 28th November 2018 till said decision was arrived at.
4. Para 4 of the order dated 10th October 2019 reads thus:
'4. It is made clear if any elections are to be held for the various positions in DAWA, the same shall be done after obtaining orders of the Trial Court and with an independent supervision.'
5. Clearly, para 4 envisages a situation where, during the pendency of the trial in CS SCJ 17/2018, elections to the positions in the DAWA were proposed. The order directs that any such elections would be conducted only after obtaining orders of the learned Civil Judge and under independent supervision.
6. It is in this scenario that Respondents 3 and 4 moved an application before the learned Civil Judge in CS SCJ 78/2018, seeking holding of elections in the DAWA.
7. The learned Civil Judge has disposed of the said application with the following observations and directions:
'6. Perusal of the reply to the application shows that there is no real objection taken by the plaintiff. The only objection that he has taken is that there are other pending issues which need to be decided. The issues which are pending before the court can be decided only after trial. This cannot be a ground to delay the e
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