2003 Supreme(All) 2798
IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
S. U. Khan, J.
UTTAR PRADESH SUNNI CENTRAL WAQF BOARD - Appellant
Versus
DISTRICT JUDGE - Respondents
Civil Misc. Writ Petition 731 Of 1982
Decided On : 12/19/2003
The central legal point established in the judgment is that in a suit directly involving the title of waqf property, it is mandatory to issue notice to the Waqf Board as per the relevant provisions of the U. P. Sunni Waqf Act, 1960, and the Waqf Board Act, 1995.
Headnote:
Waqf Property - Waqf Property Dispute - U. P. Sunni Waqf Act, 1960, Section 66; Waqf Board Act, 1995, Section 90
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a dispute over the ownership of a shop claimed by the Managing Committee of a mosque and another party. The lower courts had decreed in favor of the other party, but the Waqf Board objected, citing the provisions of the U. P. Sunni Waqf Act, 1960, and the Waqf Board Act, 1995.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the dispute directly related to the title of the waqf property and the right of the managing committee, making it mandatory to issue notice to the Waqf Board. The lower court's decision was set aside, and the trial court was directed to re-hear the suit after hearing the Waqf Board.
Issues: The main issue was whether the lower courts erred in not issuing notice to the Waqf Board in a suit directly related to the title of waqf property.
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that in a suit directly involving the title of waqf property, it is mandatory to issue notice to the Waqf Board as per the relevant provisions of the U. P. Sunni Waqf Act, 1960, and the Waqf Board Act, 1995.
Final Decision: The writ petition was allowed, the lower court's order was set aside, and the judgment and decree in the suit were also set aside, with directions for the trial court to re-hear the suit after hearing the Waqf Board.
( 1 ) A suit being S. C. C. Suit No. 4 of 1973 was filed on behalf of Managing Committee of Masjid nawab Sahab Kha and its Secretary (respondent Nos. 4 and 5 in the instant writ petition) against mohd, Anwar (respondent No. 6 in the instant writ petition ). In the said suit plaintiffs claimed themselves to be owner landlord of the shop in dispute and described Mohd. Anwar the defendant of the said suit as their tenant in the shop in dispute. The said suit was decreed as ex-parte on 4. 5. 1973. Thereafter, Abdul Rashid Lutfi (respondent No. 3 in the instant writ petition) filed regular suit being O. S. No. 176 of 1973 before Civil Judge, Bulandshahr against plaintiffs and defendant of the earlier suit and Mohd. Yameen and Abdul Hamid (respondents no. 6 and 7 in the instant writ petition) standing therein that he along with Abdul Hamid, defendant No. 5 of the said suit (respondent No. 7 in the instant petition) was owner of the shop in dispute and Mohd. Yameen defendant No. 4 of the said suit was their tenant in the shop in dispute since 1961 and that the decree passed in S. C. C. Suit No. 4 of 1973 was collusive as neither plaintiff of the said suit was landlord of the shop nor defendant of the said suit Mohd. Anwar was the tenant of the said shop and that the decree passed therein was sham. The relief sought in the said suit was for possession. Even though no relief for cancelling the decree passed in Suit No. 4 of 1973 was sought in O. S. No. 176 of 1973 however, almost all the allegations in the plaint related to the decree passed in the earlier suit. O. S. No. 176 of 1973 was decreed on 19. 8. 1976 against which appeal was filed which was dismissed on 24. 4. 1978 by IV-Addl. District Judge, Bulandshahr, Unfortunately the said judgment have, not been annexed either alongwith the writ petition or counter-affidavit. The decree passed in O. S. No. 176 of 1973 was put in execution, registered as execution case No. 45 of 1978. In execution application U. P. Sunni Central Waqf Board, Lucknow filed objections under Section 47, CPC. In the said objections it was stated that by virtue of Section 66 of U. P. Sunni Waqf Act, 1960, the decree which was sought to be executed was null and void and not executable as no notice to Waqf board was issued and that Waqf Board came to know about the decree passed in O. S. No. 176 of 1973 on 28. 6. 1978. The objections were dismissed by Civil Judge, Bulandshahr through order dated 12. 7. 1978. The petitioner filed a revision against the same being Revision No. 84 of 1978 which was also dismissed by District Judge, Bulandshahr through judgment dated 28. 8. 1981. This writ petition is directed against the aforesaid judgments and orders.
( 2 ) BOTH the Courts below quoted Section 66 of the U. P. Sunni Waqf Act, 1960. The said Section is also quoted below:
"66. Notice of Suits, etc. by Court.-- (1) In every suit or proceeding relating to the title to Waqf property or the right of a Mutwali, the Court shall issue notice to the Board at the cost of the party instituting such suit or proceedings. (2) Whenever any Waqf Property is notified for sale in execution or a decree of a Civil Court or for the recovery of any revenue, can, rates or taxed due to the Government or any local authority, notice shall be given to the Board by the Court, Collector or other person under whose order the sale is notified. (3) In the absence or a notice under Sub-section (1) any decree or order passed in the suit or proceeding, shall be declared void if the board, within one month of becoming aware of such suit or proceedings, applies to the Court in this behalf. (4) In the absence or a notice under Sub-section (2), the sale shall be declared void, if the Board within one month of its becoming aware of the sale applies in this behalf to the Court or other authority under whose order the sale was held. "
( 3 ) SIMILARLY under the Waqf Board Act, 1995 same provision has been provided for under section 90. The firs