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2025 Supreme(Jhk) 996

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI
RAJESH SHANKAR, J.
The State of Jharkhand - Appellant
Versus
Mahwa Minz - Respondent
Civil Review No. 37 of 2024
Decided On : 07-02-2025


Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Appellants : Sachin Kumar, Ravi Prakash Mishra
For the Respondent: Binod Singh

The power of review is limited to correcting apparent errors or considering new evidence, distinct from appellate powers, especially in disputes over election matters governed by specific provisions.

Headnote:(A) Societies Registration Act, 1860 - Bihar (Jharkhand) Societies Registration Rules, 1965 - Power of review, election disputes - The review petition asserted an error in the court's previous order on an election dispute involving the Church society, arguing that the Inspector General lacked jurisdiction based on Section 13 of the Act and prior judgments - No grounds for review were found as the court emphasized the limited scope of review, distinct from appeal powers. (Paras 4, 10, 29)

(B) Judicial authority - Scope of review petitions - Review may only proceed on grounds of new and important evidence, or apparent errors, not on merits - The court reaffirmed, 'a review petition cannot be allowed to be an appeal in disguise.' (Paras 8, 10)

Facts of the case:
The State of Jharkhand sought to review a decision permitting an election matter to be addressed to the Inspector General of Registration regarding the North Western G.E.L. Church, arguing that the Inspector General lacked jurisdiction for election disputes.

Findings of Court:
The court upheld the original order, finding no apparent error in directing the Inspector General to address alleged misappropriation and other governance issues, as mandated by the Act.

Issues: The primary issue was whether election disputes fall under the jurisdiction of the Inspector General.

Ratio Decidendi: The court concluded that the Inspector General has authority for preliminary inquiries related to governance but cannot resolve disputes that require civil adjudication, thus maintaining the integrity of the original ruling.

Result: The review petition is dismissed.

Table of Content
1. review filed for apparent error. (Para 1 , 2)
2. court's duty to ascertain limits of review. (Para 3 , 6 , 10 , 12)
3. arguments concerning the scope of registration authority. (Para 4 , 5)
4. scope of exercise of review powers. (Para 7)
5. review standards under the cpc. (Para 8 , 9 , 11)
6. jurisdiction regarding society disputes. (Para 13 , 14 , 15 , 18)
7. limits of inspector general's authority under the statutes. (Para 16 , 17 , 22)
8. disputes among society members to be referred to civil court. (Para 24 , 25)
9. review petition dismissed. (Para 30 , 31)

ORDER :

1. The present Civil Review has been filed for reviewing the order dated 19.10.2022 passed by this Court in W.P.(C) No. 3425 of 2022 claiming that there is certain apparent error in the said order.

2. Learned counsel for the review petitioner submits that the respondent namely, Mahuwa Minz had filed a writ petition being W.P.(C) No. 3425 of 2022 for the following reliefs:

(i) For quashing/setting aside the entire result of election pertaining to North Western G.E.L. Church, Ranchi held on 21.11.2021 and published vide letter no. XIII/1-Election-629 dated 04.12.2021 whereby the respondent no. 7 has been elected as Arch Bishop and the respondent nos. 8 and 9 have been elected as Bishops.

(ii) For quashing/setting aside the office order no.02/2022 issued vide memo no. VII/5-Ministerial/27 dated 31.01.2022, whereby several “Purohits” have been transferred and posted from one place to another place.

(iii) For quashing/setting aside the minutes of proceeding as contained in letter/memo no.XVII/7-Admin./101 dated 17.05.2022, whereby several “Purohits”/candidates have been transferred from one “Parish”/department to another “Parish”/department.

(iv) For quashing/setting aside the notification no.XIII/1-Election/08 dated 16.06.2022, whereby the “Kalisya” Election 2022 (Session 2022-26) of North Western G.E.L. Church has been declared to be held on different dates by the respondent no. 4 in contrary to the constitution of the NWGEL Church Society as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the NWGEL Church Society.

3. It is further submitted that the said writ petition was disposed of vide order dated 19.10.2022 in following terms:

“4. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and keeping in view the provisions of Rule 12 of the Act, 1965, without entering into the merit of the case, the petitioner is given liberty to prefer a representation before the respondent no. 2 on the present issue. On receipt of the said representation, the respondent no. 2 shall take up the same and after issuing notices to the concerned parties as well as on providing due opportunity of hearing to them, shall take an appropriate informed decision within three months from the date of receipt of the representation.

5. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of with aforesaid liberty and direction.”

4. Learned counsel for the review petitioner submits that the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and the Bihar (now Jharkhand) Societies Registration Rules, 1965 do not empower the Inspector General of Registration to adjudicate the dispute relating to a society or dispute among members of a society. The writ petitioner had challenged the election of North Western G.E.L. Church, Ranchi held on 21.11.2021 and published vide letter no. XIII/1-Election-629 dated 04.12.2021 whereas as per the Rules, 1965, the Inspector General of Registration is not empowered to enquire into the election matters of a society. In case of dispute arising among the governing body and the members of a society, the same can only be adjudicated in a civil suit.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioner, in support of his submission, puts reliance on the following judgments:

(i) Sri Ram Krishna Seva Sangh Vs. The State of Jharkhand & Ors.2023 SCC OnLine Jhar 1302 [W.P. (C) No. 1151 of 2020]

(ii) Supreme Court Bar Association Vs. The Registrar of Societies & Ors.2012 SCC OnLine Del 6415 [W.P. (C) No. 3260 of 2010]

6. Heard the

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