2017 Supreme(Mad) 2743
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
T. RAVINDRAN, J.
A. Jahir Ali - Petitioner
Vs.
M.A. Samadusahib and Ors. - Respondents
C.R.P. (NPD) (MD) No. 279 of 2006 and C.M.P. (MD) No. 2784 of 2006
Decided On : 19-07-2017
For the Petitioner: Mr. S.P. Maharajan
For the Respondents: Mr. Jeyapal, Mr. K.K. Senthil
The central legal point established in the judgment is the importance of valid documentation and registration under the Wakf Act in determining the authority of the Muthavalli and the validity of property transactions.
Headnote:
Wakf Act - Muthavalli - Section 51 - 10.02.1976, 20.12.1984, 09.01.2002, 14.06.2002 - The court discussed the validity of the Appointment Order, the creation of the Trust, and the Sale Deed in the context of the Wakf Act. It highlighted the importance of valid documentation and the registration of the Trust under the Wakf Act. The court's decision was influenced by the interpretation of the legal provisions under the Wakf Act and the validity of the documents presented.
Fact of the Case:
The revision petitioner claimed to be the Muthavalli of the revision petitioner's Trust and sought reliefs of declaration and permanent injunction or possession. The defendants contested the petitioner's authority and the validity of the Trust and its properties.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the revision petitioner failed to establish his validity as the Muthavalli and dismissed the suit. It also held that the suit properties belonged to the revision petitioner's Trust and the Sale Deed was not valid and binding on the Trust.
Issues: Validity of Muthavalli's authority, ownership of suit properties, validity of Sale Deed, entitlement to reliefs, and final decision.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the failure to establish the petitioner's authority as Muthavalli, the ownership of the suit properties, and the validity of the Sale Deed in relation to the Trust.
Final Decision: The civil revision petition was dismissed, and the Judgment and Decree passed in O.S.No.237 of 2002 were confirmed.
Challenge in this civil revision petition is made by the revision petitioner/plaintiff to the Judgment and Decree, dated 01.11.2004, passed in O.S. No. 237 of 2002, on the file of the Wakf Tribunal (Principal Sub Court), Tirunelveli.
2. The said suit has been laid by the revision petitioner for the reliefs of declaration and permanent injunction or in the alternative for the relief of possession.
3. In brief, according to the revision petitioner, the revision petitioner's Trust has been registered under the Wakf Act in the year 2002 and the revision petitioner A.Jahir Ali is the Muthavalli of the revision petitioner's Trust. The revision petitioner's grandfather Ahamed Ibrahim created the revision petitioner's Trust by way of the registered document dated 10.02.1976 and under the same, the suit properties are endowed with the Trust for performing certain obligations mandated under the Trust and according to the revision petitioner, the suit properties are being utilized only for the performance of the obligations mandated under the Trust and while creating the Trust, Ahamed Ibrahim had nominated the revision petitioner's father Mohammed Abdul Jabar as the Muthavalli and the revision petitioner's father had nominated the revision petitioner A.Jahir Ali as the next Muthavalli to succeed him by an Appointment Order, dated 20.12.1984 and on the demise of the said Mohammed Abdul Jabar on 02.01.1985, the revision petitioner A.Jahir Ali has assumed the office of the Muthavalli and discharging the obligations to be carried out under the Trust vis-a-vis the suit properties. The first defendant, who is the paternal uncle of the revision petitioner, has no right over the suit properties and not acted as Muthavalli in respect of the revision petitioner's Trust at any point of time. While so, it is the case of the revision petitioner that the first defendant had created a fraudulent Sale Deed, dated 10.01.2002, in favour of the second defendant as if the first item of the suit properties had been conveyed to the second defendant. However, the first defendant is not entitled to legally execute such a Sale Deed in respect of the suit properties and the said sale transaction is barred under the law and taking advantage of the above said fraudulent document, according to the revision petitioner, the defendants 1 and 2 attempted to evict the tenants in the occupation of the first item of the suit properties, however, they are not entitled to do so. As per Section 51 of the Wakf Act, the Sale Deed, dated 10.01.2002, is void and cannot be enforced and the defendants cannot claim any right or title over the suit properties as such under the above mentioned Sale Deed. While so, taking advantage of the above said Sale Deed, inasmuch as the defendants attempted to dispute the title of the revision petitioner's Trust over the suit properties and interfere with his possession and enjoyment of the same in the capacity of Muthavalli, according to the revision petitioner, the suit had been laid for appropriate reliefs.
4. The case of the defendants 1 and 2 in their written statement in brief is that A.Jahir Ali, who had laid the suit claiming to be the Muthavalli, is not competent to represent the revision petitioner's Trust and file the suit. The Appointment Order, dated 20.12.1984, on the basis of which A.Jahir Ali claiming to be the Muthavalli of the revision petitioner's Trust, is a bogus document created with the sole object of grabbing the suit properties. The said document is said to have been executed in a stamp paper, dated 20.12.1984, which stamp paper had been sold during August 1990 by the Stamp Department, Tuticorin, therefore, on the said ground alone, it is to be noted that the Appointment Order, dated 20.12.1984, had been concocted and forged by A.Jahir Ali in the name of Mohammed Abdul Jabbar, who did not issue any such order appointing A.Jahir Ali as the Muthavalli of the revision petitioner's Trust. Further, the revision petitioner