HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
V.K. Khanna, Sudhir Narain, JJ.
Society Madarsa Mazahir Uloom Mubarak Shah Saharanpur – Appellants
Versus
Muzaffar Hussain - Respondents
Special Appeal No.- 673 of 1993
Decided on : Oct 13, 1993
SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1868 - SECTION 3-A - RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION - INTERIM STAY ORDER - MAINTAINABILITY OF SPECIAL APPEAL - JUDGMENT - INTERIM ORDER - DISTINCTION - LEGAL PRINCIPLES.
Fact of the Case:
The appellant society, Madarasa Mazahir Uloom, Mubarak Shah, Saharanpur, sought renewal of its registration certificate under section 3-A of the Societies Registration Act, 1868. The Deputy Registrar granted the renewal, but the respondent, Muzaffar Hussain, filed a writ petition challenging the renewal. The learned Single Judge stayed the operation of the renewal order.
Finding of the Court:
The Court held that the interim stay order did not amount to a 'judgment' as it did not adjudicate upon any rights of the parties. The Court distinguished between a 'judgment' and an 'interim order' and held that an interim order does not have the quality of finality unless it decides the questions in controversy in an ancillary proceeding or in the suit itself or in a part of the proceedings.
Issues: 1. Whether the interim stay order granted by the learned Single Judge was a 'judgment' within the meaning of Chapter VIII Rule 5 of the Rules of the Court? 2. Whether a Special Appeal is maintainable against an interim order passed by a learned Single Judge?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Court held that an interim order to be treated as a 'judgment', must contain the traits and trappings of finality. This may be at two stages in a writ petition: (i) When the writ petition is entertained and interim order is passed without giving opportunity of hearing to the respondents or if time is given for submitting objections but before such objection could be filed the order is passed which has the trappings of finality the result the writ petition is practically decided ex facie. It is termed as "pre-hearing judgment". (ii) When an interim matter is decided after taking into 'consideration the objections filed by the respondents or the affidavits submitted by the parties before the Court. 2. The Court held that the interim stay order did not decide any controversy on which the parties were at issue and did not involve the determination of any right or liability which may ultimately affect the merits of controversy involved in the case. Therefore, it did not amount to a 'judgment' and a Special Appeal was not maintainable against it.
Final Decision: The Special Appeal was dismissed as not maintainable.
Sudhir Narain, J.
1. THIS Special Appeal is directed against the order of a learned Single Judge dated 28th August, 1993 whereby he stayed the operation of the order dated 28th July. 1993 passed by Deputy Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, U. P., Meerut Region, Meerut, renewing registration certificate in favour of the appellant.
2. THE facts, in brief, are that there is a religious educational institution known as Madarasa Mazahir Uloom, Mubarak Shah, Saharanpur. THE respondent, Muzaffar Hussain, claimed right to manage the institution as Mutawali of the Waqf property. THE members of the Managing Committee moved an application for registration of the society known as Society Madarsa Mazahir Uloom, Mubarak Shandh, Saharanpir in the year 1985 under section 3 of the Societies Registration Act, 1868 (in short the 'Act'). THE respondent filed objection before the Assistant Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, U. P., Meerut Region, Meerut alleging that the Waqf was created in the name of the Madarsa and registered with the U. P. Sunni Central Board of Waqf, Lucknow and he was appointed as Nazim/Mutawallia of the said Waqf and it could not be managed by any society. This objection of the respondent was replied and the society was directed to be registered by order dated 18th October, 1985. THE respondent filed Writ Petition No. 16110 of 1985, Muzaffar Hussain and another v. Assistant Registrar, Firms Societies and Chits, U. P., Meerut Region, Meerut and others. THE High Court quashed the order of the Assistant Registrar dated 18th October, 1985 and directed the Assistant Registrar to refer the question of registration of the society under section 3-8 of the Act to the State Government. THE State Government rejected the objection of the respondent by order dated 2nd May, 1988 and held that the appellant was entitled for registration of the society. THE petitioner again filed Writ Petition No, 13741 of 1988. In the said writ petition he also filed an application for interim injunction on which notice was issued but no interim stay order was granted. THE writ petition is still pending and no interim order has yet been passed in the said writ petition. THE appellant was, however, granted registration certificate in pursuance of the order dated 2nd May, 1988 for a period of five years. THE appellant, on 31st Mach, 1993, submitted application for renewal of the registration certificate under section 3-A of the Act before the Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, U. P., Meerut Region, Meerut. THE Deputy Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, Meerut Region, Meerut by order dated 2nd July, 1993 allowed the application for renewal of the certificate of registration and granted on the same day a certificate of renewal of registration for a period of five years.
The respondent filed writ petition against the aforesaid order of the Deputy Registrar mainly on the .ground that he had filed objection before the Deputy Registrar concerned but without taking into consideration the said objection the certificate of renewal of registration was issued. Learned Single Judge stayed the operation of the said order.
3. LEARNED counsel for the appellant submitted that the respondent had raised only those objections which he had taken at the time of grant of registration certificate and the same matter having been decided by the State Government, it could not be agitated again before the Registrar concerned. The appellant was entitled to renewal of registration certificate as a matter of right under sub-section (2) of section 3-A of the Act. The appellant was managing the institution and by staying the operation of the order of renewal of certificate of registration the appellant shall be treated as unregistered society and that would cause irreparable loss and injury to the society.
4. A preliminary objection has been raised on behalf of the respondent that the appeal has been filed against an interim order and no Special Appeal is maintainab
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.