IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
N. SATHISH KUMAR, J.
Arulmigu Abhinava Dharma Sivachariar Mutt – Applicant
Versus
P. Ekambaram – Respondent
O.A. Nos. 648, 649 of 2018, A. No. 5187 of 2018 in C.S. No. 455 of 2018
Decided On : 31-07-2018
Civil Law – Bank – Resignation - Applications are filed to grant interim injunction restraining respondents 1 and 2/ defendants 1 and 2 their agents or any one on their behalf from in anyway acting as Office Bearers or in any other capacity of Applicant/Plaintiffs Mutt, either by operating Bank Account of the Applicant/Plaintiffs Mutt either by operating its Bank Accounts with Union Bank of India Sow carpet or in any other manner without express consent/ permission of Treasurer P.S. Krishnamurthy and to appoint an Advocate Commissioner to hold the election to all the trustees and office bearers of the Applicant/plaintiff Mutt, pending disposal of the suit – Held, it is very clear that if any resignation is not approved by the beneficiary of the Trust and not strictly in accordance with the scheme of the Trust Deed, it cannot be treated as resignation as per law. Admittedly as per the scheme five (5) members quorum is necessary. Similarly their resignations also to be approved by the five (5) members quorum. As there was no quorum in the Mutt at the relevant point. Therefore, merely on the basis of the resignation sent by the respondents 1 and 2 it cannot be said that they resigned from the Trust without proper approval or sanction as per the scheme by way of majority. When the resignation is not sanctioned as per the scheme, the trustees continue in the office. Therefore, I am of the view that there cannot be any injunction as against the defendants restraining them from acting as office bearers and operating bank accounts. In view of the same O.A. Nos. 648 and 649 of 2018 are liable to be dismissed – Hence dismissed
1. These applications are filed to grant interim injunction restraining respondents 1 and 2/ defendants 1 and 2 their agents or any one on their behalf from in anyway acting as Office Bearers or in any other capacity of Applicant/Plaintiff's Mutt, either by operating Bank Account of the Applicant/Plaintiff's Mutt either by operating its Bank Accounts No. 10885932861 with State Bank of India, George Town and No. 33402010048555 with Union Bank of India Sowcarpet or in any other manner without express consent/ permission of Treasurer P.S. Krishnamurthy and to appoint an Advocate Commissioner to hold the election to all the trustees and office bearers of the Applicant/plaintiff Mutt, pending disposal of the suit.
2. The case of the applicant is that the Mutt formed several decades before is effectively run till date. Earlier, one Mr. P.K. Krishnamurthy was its President and Mr. P. Ekambaram was the Secretary. Both of them resigned by submitting letters to the Mutt on 15.10.2016 and 22.10.2016 respectively. This was duly accepted in the Minutes of Meeting, duly signed by the Treasurer and A.N. Sureshkumar. The applicant being the life time Trustee of the mutt continuous to hold as Treasurer. Among other three trustees, Tr. K.M. Venkatesan died; Thiru A.N. Sureshkumar resigned and only Thiru G. Gopal continues to be other Trustee. Therefore, the Mutt is run by Treasurer T.S. Krishnamurthy and Trustee G. Gopal. The Mutt is having two bank accounts. Both can be operated with the signature of President, Secretary and Treasurer, jointly and cannot be operated by any one of them independently. As the post of the President and Secretary are vacant, bank accounts could not be operated by the plaintiff. Respondents 1 and 2, in connivance and conspiracy with the 3rd respondent suddenly entered the premises and made out a Minutes of Meeting as if Meeting of Trustees was conducted on 26.06.2018 to operate the accounts. This was done with the connivance and assistance of 3rd respondent. Hence, the respondents 1 and 2 are no longer office bearers of the Mutt and 3rd respondent is only a Trustee, the affairs of plaintiff Mutt have to be managed and dealt with only by the existing treasurer who is the applicant. Therefore, the applicant has come before this Court for the above prayers and also to appoint an Advocate Commissioner to hold election to all the Trustees and office bearers of the Mutt.
3. It is the main contention of the applicant that the respondents 1 and 2 resigned, therefore, an Advocate Commissioner has to be appointed to hold election of the Trustees. In both applications a common counter has been filed.
4. It is the contention of the respondent that the Mutt belongs to the Beri Chetty Community and the same is governed by the Scheme decree in C.S. No. 376 of 1883. Instead of moving an application in that suit, in order to project as he is representing the trust, has filed fresh suit. It is admitted that Mr. P.K. Krishnamoorthy then President has resigned and Mr. Venkatesan has expired leaving respondents 1 to 3 and applicant to manage the affairs of the Trust. It is the contention of the respondent that due to the acts of mismanagement of the applicant, the respondents 1 and 2 wrote a letter of resignation. However, the same was never accepted. Thereafter, beneficiaries viz. persons belonging to the Beri Chetty community approached and requested the respondents to take back the resignations as the same was not accepted. Even before the Trust Board was reconstituted and the resignation was accepted, the respondents 1 and 2 have by their actions withdrawn the same. These facts are well within the knowledge of the applicant. In fact, previous resignations were accepted when there was quorum in the trust. On the death of one trustee and the resignation of the other, the number of trustees were reduced to bare minimum quorum as per the scheme decree. Therefore, the averment that their resignation had been unilaterally accepted by
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