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2019 Supreme(SC) 394

UDAY UMESH LALIT, HEMANT GUPTA
Hammadahmed – Appellant
Versus
Abdul Majeed – Respondent


Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant :Ms. Jaikriti S. Jadeja, Advocate.
For the Respondents:Mr. Saket Singh, Advocate, Mr. Simran Mehta, Advocate, Ms. Ekta Sikri, Advocate, Mr. Anirudh Bakhru, Advocate, Mr. Vikalp Mudgal, Advocate, Ms. Ranjeeta Rohatgi, Advocate, Ms. Pragya Baghel, Advocate, Mr. Pawan Upadhyay, Advocate, Mr. Simran Mehta, Advocate, Mr. Saket Sikri, Advocate, Mr. Javeed Akhtar, Advocate, Mr. Sarabjit Pratap Singh, Advocate, Ms. Sharmila Upadhyay, Advocate, Mr. Sudarsh Menon, Advocate, Mr. Ravinder A. Lokhande, Advocate, Mr. Ram Gupta, Advocate, Mr. Samarendra Beura, Advocate, Mr. Deepak Goel, Advocate and Ms. Arunima Dwivedi, Advocate.

Judgement Key Points

Certainly. Based on the provided legal document, here are the key points:

  • The entity Dawakhana (Hamdard) is not classified as a wakf despite the use of the term "wakf" in its name. Consequently, its property, both movable and immovable, is deemed to be vested in its governing body rather than as a wakf (!) .

  • The rule of primogeniture is not applicable to Muslims as a matter of personal law; however, its presence in a testamentary or trust document can influence succession if explicitly provided (!) (!) .

  • The interpretation of legal documents must be comprehensive, considering the entire text rather than isolated lines. A single line taken out of context cannot determine the whole meaning; a cumulative reading is essential for proper understanding (!) .

  • The standard of proof required in applications under specific procedural rules (such as for interim injunctions) is higher than a mere prima facie case; the plaintiff must establish a case of substance to justify interim relief (!) .

  • The appointment of a Chief Mutawalli is governed by the terms of the relevant deed and amendments, which specify that the senior-most male descendant in the line of succession, who is a Mutawalli, should be appointed as Chief Mutawalli (!) (!) (!) .

  • The succession process outlined in the deeds emphasizes the importance of the line of male descendants, with provisions for appointment from among the descendants of the original Wakif Mutawalli, and includes mechanisms for appointment if no suitable male descendants are available (!) (!) (!) (!) .

  • The management and administration of the Wakf are to be carried out by a board or council, with specific provisions for appointment, roles, and responsibilities, but these do not alter the fundamental rules of succession or management as set out in the deed (!) (!) (!) .

  • The legal documents, including the original deed and subsequent amendments, should be read together to ascertain the proper process and criteria for appointment of the Chief Mutawalli, with particular attention to the language and context of the clauses (!) (!) .

  • The nature of the institution and its properties has been examined to determine whether it qualifies as a wakf under applicable law. It has been concluded that the entity does not meet the criteria of a wakf, and property is vested in its governing body (!) (!) (!) (!) .

  • Disputes regarding the appointment and management of the Mutawalli are to be resolved based on the provisions of the deed, amendments, and the principles of interpretation, with emphasis on the importance of the line of succession, the role of the Mutawalli, and the management structure (!) (!) (!) (!) (!) .

  • Interim orders and injunctions in such disputes require clear prima facie evidence of illegality or breach, and the courts are cautious in granting mandatory injunctions that would alter the status quo unless justified by strong circumstances (!) .

  • The procedural approach allows for the continuation of existing arrangements and emphasizes the importance of expeditious resolution of disputes, with the courts encouraging early conclusion of evidence and final adjudication within a specified timeframe (!) (!) .

Please let me know if you need further elaboration or specific legal advice based on these points.


JUDGMENT :

HEMANT GUPTA, J.

1. Leave granted.

2. The challenge in the present appeals is to an order passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Delhi on 27.11.2018 whereby an application filed by the Plaintiff under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 of Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Code) was dismissed. The Division Bench has set aside an order passed by the learned Single Bench on 25.10.2017.

3. The dispute between the parties at this stage is as to who should discharge the duties of Chief Mutawalli of Hamdard Laboratories (India) (Hamdard) earlier known as Hamdard Dawakhana, after the death of previous undisputed Chief Mutawalli - Abdul Mueed on 19.03.2015.

4. The Appellant filed Civil Suit No. 211 of 2017 on 08.05.2017, whereas Respondent No. 2 filed Civil Suit No. 162 of 2017 on 29.03.2017. The suit of the Appellant is for declaration, prohibitory injunction and for other reliefs. The Appellant asserted that after death of Abdul Mueed, Chief Mutawalli on 19.03.2015, the Appellant being living senior most male direct successor of Wakif Mutawalli took over the Office of Chief Mutaw










































































































































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