Regulatory authorities governing public trusts lack the statutory jurisdiction to mandate alterations to the name of a registered entity, as their powers are strictly limited to the matters of registration and administration explicitly defined by law.

JUDGMENT :

1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith with consent and taken up for final disposal.

2. By this petition, the challenge is to the order of Joint Charity Commissioner, Pune Region, Pune dated 14th September, 2023 directing interalia deletion of the word, “National” from the name of the present Petitioner i.e. National Egg Co-ordination Committee in suo motu revision proceedings initiated under Section 70A of Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950 (for short “MPT Act”).

3. Briefly stated the facts are that the Petitioner is a public charitable trust bearing PTR No.F-2184/Pune registered under the provisions of the MPT Act. On 12th April, 2018, the Respondent No.3 filed a complaint with the Charity Commissioner to take necessary action to ensure that the word “National” is deleted from the name of the Petitioner trust. On 14th July, 2018, an inquiry order was passed by the Assistant Charity Commissioner and notice dated 26th June, 2018 was issued to Petitioner under Section 37 of MPT Act. A detailed response was filed by the Petitioner to the inquiry proceedings. The Inspector Inquiry No.99 of 2018 concluded that deletion of the word “National” was not within the purview of Section 37 of MPT Act and that revision powers may be invoked under Section 70A of MPT Act. Accordingly, suo motu revision proceedings were initiated under Section 70A of the MPT Act. The Petitioner submitted a detailed response to the sou motu Revision Application and raised objections on the ground of jurisdiction and maintainability as also on merits. The Respondent No.3 filed an application before the Assistant Charity Commissioner seeking to be impleaded in the proceedings which came to be allowed. The impugned order was passed leading to the present Petition.

4. The complaint of the Respondent No.3 was that the Petitioner society registered under the Societies Registration Act by use of the word “National” as part of its name is causing great confusion giving farmers and traders an impression that it is a government entity and that the price of eggs that it declares is the government price and has been published by official sanction. The complaint further stated that under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper use) Act, 1950 (for short, “Emblems Act”), i.e. Section 3 read with the Schedule, an entity including a society or trust cannot have a name which may suggest or is calculated to suggest the patronage of the Government of India or Government of the State. It stated that in respect of the Petitioner, the Assistant Registrar of Societies, Pune Region is the competent authority and the registration of the Petitioner with the word “National” in its name ought not to be permitted.

5. Mr. Nankani, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the Petitioner submits that the Petitioner was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act in the year 1982 with the object to promote the welfare of poultry farmers and to ensure that they receive a fair and reasonable price for their products. He submits that registration was granted by an order of 2nd August, 1982, pursuant to an inquiry under Section 19 of the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. He submits that the present inquiry commenced upon complaint by Respondent No.3, under Section 37 of MPT Act which deals with the powers of inspection and s