RAJASTHAN HIGH COURT
Dwarka Prasad, J.
Mehta Charity Trust Pali & others - Appellant
Versus
Gulam Rasool & others - Respondent
S. B. Civil Revision Petition No. 10 of 1980.
Decided On : 17-04-1985
PUBLIC TRUST - REGISTRATION - SUIT FOR CANCELLATION OF ENTRY - MAINTAINABILITY - PERSON HAVING INTEREST IN PUBLIC TRUST OR PROPERTY FOUND TO BE TRUST PROPERTY - INTERPRETATION - SECTION 22 OF THE RAJASTHAN PUBLIC TRUST ACT, 1959.
Fact of the Case:
The plaintiffs filed a suit under Section 22 of the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959 for cancellation of the entry No. 133 dated September 12, 1975 recording registry of the Mehta Charity Trust, Pali. The defendants took the objection that the plaintiffs claimed the interest in the land in dispute adverse to the Trust and as such they are not entitled to maintain the suit under Section 22 of the Act.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that a person having interest in the public trust or in any property found to be trust property must be considered to be the interest of a beneficiary or of a person who claims a right to maintain the trust or other interest of similar character. If a person claims that the property is not a trust property and sets up a title adverse to that of the trust, then such a person cannot maintain a suit under Section 22 because interest of such person in the property cannot be held to be interest in trust property.
Issues: Whether a person claiming a title adverse to the public trust can maintain a suit under Section 22 of the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959 for cancellation of the entries made under Section 21.
Ratio Decidendi: The court relied on the decision of the Supreme Court in Abdul Karim Khan v. Municipal Committee, Raipur, where it was held that a person having interest in the public trust or any property found to be trust property must be read in the light of Section 5(2) to the interest of a beneficiary or the interest of a person who claims the right to maintain the trust or any other interest of a similar character. It is not the interest which is adverse to the trust set up by a party who does not claim any relation with the trust at all.
Final Decision: The court held that the suit filed by the plaintiffs was not maintainable under Section 22 of the Rajasthan Public Trust Act, 1959 and dismissed the suit as withdrawn.
22. Civil Suit against entries made under Section 21-(1) Any working trustee or person having interest in a public trust or in any property found to be trust property aggrieved by any entry made under Section 21 may, within six months from the date of the publication thereof on the notice board of the office of the Assistant Commissioner under Sub-section (1) of Section 21 institute a suit in a civil court to have such entry cancelled or modified;
(2) In every such suit the civil court shall give notice to the State Government through the Assistant Commissioner and the State Government, if it so desires, shall be made a party to the suit;
(3) On the final decision of the suit, the Assistant Commissioner shall, if necessary, correct the entries made in the register in accordance with such decision.
AI
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.