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2023 Supreme(Online)(Chh) 14348

CHHATTISGARH HIGH COURT
A., J
Shiv Bhagwan Rameshwar Lal Charitable Trust – Appellant
Versus
Registrar, Public Trust – Respondent
Writ Petition No. N/A



Advocates:
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Mr. B. P. Sharma
For the Respondents: Mr. Anurag Dayal Shrivastava

The registrar's refusal to grant permission for trust property sale must be supported by evidence of prejudice to public interest; arbitrary denials are against statutory provisions.

Headnote:(A) Chhattisgarh Public Trusts Act, 1951 - Section 14 - Writ of mandamus and certiorari - The petitioners, a charitable trust, challenged the refusal of the registrar to permit the sale of trust property based on claims of public interest without evidence of prejudice. The court ruled that the Registrar must consider whether the sale is detrimental to the trust's interests and set aside the prior order for lack of statutory consideration. (Paras 25, 26).

(B) Court’s observations state that the property in question can be sold with an essential reservation for public access and parking space critical for adjacent educational institutions. (Para 24)

Facts of the case:
The petitioners sought to sell trust land due to financial constraints, but the sale was rejected by the registrar based on the land's public use as a playground. The claim was contested, asserting that the property was integral to trust purposes.

Findings of Court:
The court allowed the petition, dismissing the registrar's order and clarifying the necessity for evidence of public harm in denying property sale.

Issues: The primary questions were whether the Registrar can deny permission without clear evidence of adverse effects on the trust and the proper authority of the registrar's decisions.

Ratio Decidendi: The Registrar cannot arbitrarily claim public interest; denial must be substantiated against the statutory benchmarks of the Public Trusts Act.

Result: The previous order was set aside in favor of the petitioners, allowing the sale under conditions that preserve public access.

Table of Content
1. petitioners sought judicial review against the registrar's decision. (Para 1 , 2)
2. respondents argued against petitioner standing and legality. (Para 3 , 6)
3. petitioner's aims to use property sale proceeds for trust objectives. (Para 5 , 11 , 12)
4. court mandated conditions for land sale ensuring public access. (Para 16 , 24)
5. court allowed petition after dismissing the registrar's decision. (Para 25 , 26)

1. The instant petition has been preferred by the Petitioners under Art.226/227 of the Constitution of India seeking the following reliefs:
A writ and / or an order in the nature of writ of mandamus do issue calling for the records pertaining to the case of the Petitioners from the Respondents for its kind perusal.
A writ and / or an order in the nature of writ of certiorari do issue quashing the order dated 05.08.2021 passed by Respondent Registrar and in effect allow the application of Petitioners filed under S.14 of the Act of 1951.
Cost of the proceedings.
Any other writs and directions that may be deemed fit and just in the facts and circumstances of the case.




2. According to the pleadings of the Petitioners, Petitioner No.1 is a Charitable Trust and is the owner of land bearing Khasra No.107/3 and 108/3 area 0.40 and 0.922 hectares, total area 0.962 hectares, situated at adjacent to J.P.Verma College, Jarhabhata, Bilaspur. The said land is situated on main road and because of its location and recent construction of over bridge etc. / widening of road, the boundary wall protecting the said property has been demolished and certain part of the said property is exposed to public. The said property during last several years has not fetched any income which otherwise would have been fetched, therefore, Petitioner No.1 - trust has taken a decision on 20.06.2019 of selling the said property and on receipt of consideration, to purchase property in any rural area prospectively around 10 acres so that arrangement may be made for education and health of weaker section of society and also to construct school, college and hospital. Taking into consideration the above aspects of matter and other relevant aspects, an application under S.14 of the Chhattisgarh Public Trusts Act, 1951 (for short 'the Act of 1951') has been filed by the Petitioners and thereafter certain amendments have also been incorporated in the said application. Respondent No. 2 i.e. Registrar, Public Trust followed the unusual procedure by calling for a report from the Tahsildar and also from the Principal of JP Verma Government Arts and Commerce College, Bilaspur which is altogether irrelevant for the purpose of decision of application filed under S.14 of the Act of 1951 and vide impugned order dated 05.08.2021, Respondent No. 2 the Registrar, Public Trust rejected the application filed by the Petitioners. Hence, the instant petition.

3. In their reply and rejoinder, Respondent Nos.3, 4, 5 and 6 stated that the Petitioners No.2 and 3 are neither the trustees under the provisions of Chhattisgarh Public Trust Act 1951 nor could they have been nominated under the terms of trust deed, therefore, they have no locus to move the subject application as well as the instant petition. With regard to Kamal Bajaj, as per terms of the trust deed, he could have been nominated as one of the trustees together with the Respondents. Neither the Respondents have authorized nor has any resolution been passed in favour of Kamal Bajaj to act nor has he been nominated as Chairman of the trust and, therefore, his representation as chairman of the trust is illegal and unauthorized. The land in question were purchased in the name of trust way back in the year 1958. In the year 1972, the trust had decided to donate the land in question along with the other land to the management who was running the college, namely, 'Shiv Bhagwan Rameshwar Lal College' (for short 'SBR College'). The deed of transfer was executed and all the land were transferred in the name of State.Due to so













































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