Charan Singh and Anr. versus Darshan Singh and Ors. — Supreme Court (1975) — LawSathi Research

Charan Singh and Anr. versus Darshan Singh and Ors. — Supreme Court (1975) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Appeal allowed; the judgment of the High Court dated 13th December, 1973 in L.P.A. No. 573 of 1971 set aside; no order as to costs made in the appeal.

Issue for consideration

Whether the suit filed by the plaintiffs was barred under sub-section (2) of section 92 of the Code — i.e., whether the reliefs claimed fall within clauses (a) to (h) of section 92(1) so that the suit required institution in conformity with section 92 (with the Advocate-General's consent), and whether maintainability is determined by the allegations in the plaint. +2 more

Court's answer

The relief sought for in this case does not strictly or squarely fall within clause (e) or clause (g) of section 92(1), but being very much akin to either, it is covered by the residuary clause (h) of section 92(1) of the Code.

Ratio / Principle

Since the suit had been filed in a representative capacity, on the death of one of the plaintiffs it did not abate; the second appeal did not lose its competency, following the decision in Raja Anand Rao.

Key takeaways

It is well-settled that the maintainability of a suit under section 92 of the Code depends upon the allegations in the plaint and does not fall for decision with reference to the averments in the written statement.ratio¶129
Though the plaintiffs in their plaint did not in terms ask for any of the reliefs mentioned in section 92(1), they alleged acts of breach of trust, mismanagement and undue interference with the right of the public in the worship of Granth Sahib; in substance the relief claimed was to prevent the appellant from committing breach of the trust and to direct him to perform his duties as Manager/Trustee — i.e., enforcement of due performance of the trustee's duties, not a mere declaration of the plaintiffs' individual rights.ratio¶84

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Charan Singh and Anr. v. Darshan Singh and Ors. (Supreme Court of India, December 17, 1974; Untwalia, J.; K. K. Mathew and P. N. Bhagwati, JJ. on the bench) — Civil Appeal No. sos. [sic] of 1974, by special leave from the Punjab & Haryana High Court judgment dated 13-12-1973 in L.P.A. No. 573 of 1971. Plaintiffs (respondents), suing representatively for devotees, sought a permanent injunction restraining the defendant-appellant (Manager/Trustee of the institution at village Balsarai, Amritsar, to whose Granth Saheb villagers dedicated land in 1897) from interfering with maintenance and recital of Guru Granth Sahib in the Darbar Sahib and with religious congregations and Satsang. Held: (i) a suit filed in a representative capacity does not abate on the death of one of the plaintiffs (decision in Raja Anand Rao followed); (ii) maintainability of a suit under section 92 CPC depends upon the allegations in the plaint, not the averments in the written statement; (iii) although the plaintiffs did not in terms pray for any relief enumerated in s. 92(1)(a)-(h), the plaint alleged breach of trust and sought enforcement of the trustee's due performance of his duties, and the relief sought — not strictly within clauses (e) or (g) but akin to them — is covered by the residuary clause (h); the suit was therefore one for a decree under section 92 and, not having been brought in conformity with that provision (no Advocate-General's consent), was not maintainable. The Trial Court and the first Appellate Court were right; the Division Bench view in the Letters Patent Appeal was not correct. Appeal allowed; High Court judgment set aside; no order as to costs.

48

A

CHARAN SINGH AND ANR.

v.

DARSHAN SINGH AND ORS.

December 17, 197 4

[K. K. MATHEW, P. N. BHAGWATI AND N. L. UNr\vAuA, JJ.]

Section 92 of C.P.C.-Consrnt of Advocate General for instituting a suitWhether allegations i11 tile plaint to be seen for determini11g wfzether the suit is of the nature melllioned i11 sectio11 92-Whether substance of the nature of the suit to be taken i11to co11sideratio11--W hether reliefs mentio11ed in section 92 should be present in tlze plaint.

B

Suit filed in a represelllative capacity whether abates on the death of one of the plaintiffs. ·

The respondents field a suit against appellant No. 1 for permanent injunction restraining him from interfering with the Guru Garanth Saheb, for religious recitals in the Darbar Saheb as well as restraining him from interfering with the rights of reciting the Guru Garanth Sahib and holding and joining !the religious c.:mgregations .and Satsl).ng in the Gurudwara. The villagers dedicated certain land · to the Granth Saheb in the year 1897. Several persons succeeded as the trustees, the appellant being the last one at the relevant time. The grievance made in the suit was that the appellant was committing a breach of trust by not using the Dera in eneral and Darbar Sabeb in particular for the purposes for whii:h the same was deciicated. The Trial Court held that the suit was not maintainable in the absence of the consent of the Advocate General as required by .section 92 of the Civil Procedure Code. The First Appellate Court affirmed the decision of !'he Trial Court. The Single Judge of the High Court in Regular Second Appeal dismised the plaintiff's appeal on the ground that the suit was hit by section 92 of the Civil Procedure Code·. On grant of leave under clause 10 of the Letters Patent.· B.ench allowed the appeal and remitted back the case to the Trial Court holding that the suit' was not barred by section 92 of the Code.

On appeal by Special Leave it was contended before this Court that (1) The judgment of tho High Court in relation to section 92 of the Code is •moneous in law. The suit was barred under the said provision of the Code; (2) On the death of one of the plaintiffs appellants during the pendency of the second appeal in the High Court the whole of the appeal abated and ought to have been dismissed as such.

C

D

E

Allowing the appeal,

HEID : Since the suit has been filed in a representative capacity on the death of one of the plaintiffs it did not abate. The decision in Raja Anand Rao followed.

F

[53C]

HEID FURTHER : The plaint alleges breach of duty on the part of th~ trustee and the plaintiffs seek the court's aid against the trustee for forcing him to discharge his obligations by due performance of his duties. The present suit was a suit for a decree under section 92 of the Code and since it was not filed in conformity with the requirements of that provision of law it was not maintainable. It is well settled that the maintainability of <he suit under section 92 of the Code depends upon the allegations in the plaint and does not fall for decision with reference to the averments irr the written statement. The plaintiffs in their plaint did not in terms ask for the one or the other reliefs mentioned in se1;tion 92 ( 1). They, however. alleged act~ of breach of trust, mismanagement. unrlue interference, with the right of the _,public in· the worship of Granth Saheb. They wanted a decree of the court against the aopellants to force him to carry out the objects of the trust and to perform his duties as a trustee.' [J7A-B]

G

ARGUMENTS

For th' A nvellants : On reading the entire plaint the reliefs claimed are covereel by s. 92(1 )(a) to (h) Code of Civil Proc !dure.

H

(i) The plaint clearly shows that the property involved is trust property and that the trust is a public trust or charitable and religious nature.

CHARAN SINGH v. DARSHAN SINGH ( Untwalia, ]. ) 4 9

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(ii) The plaint also shows that the aim was for benefit of the public.

(iii) Reliefs claimed fall within Sub..C/ase (e).-The place where Guru Granth Sahib was placed wa·s called "Darbar Sahib" where it was to be recited and where Sat Sang and Amrit Pan Ceremony were to l:e held. The reach alleged is that the appellant is not using the "Darbar Sahib" for the purpose for which it was dedicated and further says that the villagers have a right to recite and worship Granth Sahib installed in the Dera in. general and Da!bar Sahib in partiular and that the appellant has stopped the. villagers ~rom d<;nng s.o. Rehef .da~~ed is that the Defendants should be restrained from mterfermg with the mamtauung of Granth Sahib for religious recitations in the Oarbar Sahib in the Dharamsala or Dera.

Therefore, the respondents required direction> of the court to demarcate the exact location of Darbar S;ihib within the Dern Jaimal Singh where Granth Sahib is to be located and worshipped etc.

Such a suit relates to the administration of the said trust and falls within subClause (e) of s. 92(1 ).

Further the directions required involve framing of a scheme for time for worshipping the Granth·Sahib or for its recitation and for holding Sat Sang and Amrit Pan Ceremonv. Ther.efore, the suit falls within s. 92(1 )(g).

D

/1l any case the suit falls within 'Sub-clause (h).-The defendants contention i5 that the scope of s. 92( 1) (a) to (h) should involve administration of the Trust Property. Sub-Clause (a) to (g) describe some of the ad:ninistrative problems arising in a particular case as all such problems could not be easily stated in a statutory provision. Any suit filed to establish existence of a trust or to establish title of the trust to a piece of property would not be covered by any sub-clause of s. 92.

The plaintiffs did not contest that the suit was not covered by clause (h) before the First Appeal Court, and also vide Judgment of the High Court. In substance the complaint is that the appellant contrary to purpose of the Trust is preventing the villagers etc. from worshipping and reciting Granth Sahib in the Darbar Sahib and is preventing them access there to hofcl Sat Sang and other ceremonies. These breaches are obviously in the course of the administration of the Trust. and must be held to be covered by sub-clause (h).

Some of the plaintiffs have died during the pendency of the Second Appeal in the High Court and their legal representatives were. not brought on the record. Therefore, the appeal had abated against them. Defendants had argued that the appeal had nbairl in toto but this plea was rejected by the Single Judge. Th~ defendants filed cross objection against this decision before the Letters Patent Bench but the same were dismissed '\Vithout discussion.

If it be held that the suit was file~ for public benefit in a representative ca;iacity then this point is conceded to h ve no force. However, if it be held that the suit. was to enfol'ce individual r ghts then the appeal had abated in to\o as otherwise thre will be conflicting 'rlecision whether a suit is covered by Iii 92 ·or not.

Under s. 5 of the Punjab Common Lands (Regulation) Act 18 of 1961 all Shamlat Lands vest in the village Panchayat. The land in dispute is Shamlat land, therdore. the plaintiffs or villagers could not file a suit relating to this Shamlat land. Plaintiffs case is that under s. 2(g) (ix) this land is used as a place of worship and, therefore. is not covered by this Act. The defendants case is that the piesent institution is not a place of worship as Radha Swamis do not carry on worship at all at any place.

For t/1c rgspondents : The substance of the plaint is (I) (a) that the defenH dant is not u~ing the Dera in general and Darbar Sahib in particuiar for the purpose for which the same are· dedicated. ( b) that the defendant alleges that "maintenance of the Guru Granth Sahib and Darbar Sahib and access of the people to Dera an.d Darbar Sahib" depends on his sweet will and discretion. (c) that the defendant has a right not to allow any persqn to enter Dera and recite 5-L3793up Cl/75

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tiranth Sahib. ( d) that the J!laintum have a right to worship in Dera and Darbar Sahib and recite Granth Sahib. (e) that the plaintiffs have a right io !H that Dharmsala Dera and Gurdwara is used for the purpose and fulfilment of which the same is established. (2) In the plaint thus the existence of a trust and its denial by the defendant not only by not using it for the purpose of dedication but also openly asserting a hostile right that it is his sweet will to permit even access to the Dera are alleged. Thus the allegation in substance and form is that the existence of trust and reciting Granth Sahib is denied by defendant and he places obstruction to the free access of the beneficiaries of trust.

B

(3) The relief claimed is for injunction to restrain the defendant from interfering with maintenance of Guru Granth Sahib in Darbar Sahib r:nd from reciting the same; which it is submitted is not covered by any of the sub clauses of s. 92(1) C.P.C. and therefore s. 92 C.P.C. is not attracted.

( 4) That since the said relief could not be covered by any other sub-clause an attempt was made by the appellant to bring the relief under sub-clause (h) of s. 92(i) which read as under:--

c

"granting such further or other relief as th(; nature of the case may . require."

Thii1 clause as held by Privy Council in 1928 PC. 16 must be read not in isolation from but e;usdem generis to the other clauses of the sub-section. It is intended to cover up swch other reliefs that may be necessary in ord(:r to effectively grant any one of the reliefs mentioned therein the earlier clauses something ancillary or akin to them or some relief which follows as a necessary corallary flowing therefrom.

It cannot be construed to mean some such relief which in its uature and substance something wholly different from them and not covered by iiny of the earlier. sub clause (a) to (g). It if were so then it would cover all the various reliefs that can concievably be claimed in a suit based on the allegation of breach of trust. That could not be the intention of the legislature otherwise nothing would be easier for the legislature to say that for the grant of any relief based on the allegations of breach of trust the sanction of advocate General would be a precondition for the institution of such a suit.

D

E

The intention appears to be clear that in suits based on allegations of breaches of trust of charitable and reiigeous nature where some, what may be termed drastic reliefs as contemplated in sulx:lause (a) to (g) of s. 92 (1) C.P.C. are prayed then in only such cases would the sanction be needed.

Thus suits fer declaration of trust are out side the purview of s. 92, so also sents for declaration and possession. On principle there is no difference in relief of injunction from that of declaration. In fact relief of injunctiorn has beea held to be not covered among the relief contemplated in sub-clauses (a) to (h).

F

5. A distinction was sought to be made between suits where allegatioru of total denial by defendant of existence of trust are made in a plaint from sui!3 where breal!hes by defendant of trust or duties only are alleged and it was suggested that for the former suits no sanction needed and for the latter sanction was . necessary.

The said contention is not enable; firstly the denial of the existence of trut is ·also a breach of trust, and secondly nothing would be easier to circumvent the sid condition by alleging denial by the defendant of the trust in the plaint and thereafter seeking reliefs which admittedly fall within sub clauses (a) to (g) of s. 92(1). To put it conversely anrl can it be suggested that where the allegations are that defendant is denying the trust but relief prayed for is removing the trustee which is clearly covered by sub clause (a), no sanction would be needed •

. It is submitted that the emphasis in section 92 C.P .C. is not on the manner in which breach of trust is alleged whether it is by denial of existi:nce of trust or which admitting the existence of trust or while admitting the existence of trust the defendant does not perform his duties but the emphasis is on the reliefs SQUght for purposes of sanction.

G

H

,

CHARAN SINGH .v: DARSHAN SINGH .(Untwalia, !.)

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A

It is further submitted that thoµgh allegation in plaint are primarily to .be looked at for this J)Urpose but where pariles·have led .. evidence reference to the same have also been made to find out the real nature of the suit. (see 1974 Vol. 2. S.C.C. Part X 695).

In the present case defendant in his written statement has denied the existence of trust for reciting Granth Sahib.

B civ1L APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. sos. of 1974. Appeal by Special Leave from the Judgment & Order dated the 13th December, 1973 of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in L.P.A. No. 573 of 1971.

Bishan Narain, M. G. Bhandare, Nandlal Balkrishan Lulla, Nishat Singh Garewal and K. J. Johan of !. B. Dadachanji & Co., for the C Appellants.

B. P. Maheshwari and Suresh Sethi for the Respondents.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

UNTAWALIA, J.-The plaintiffs respondents in this appeal filed by the defendants appellants by special leave of this Court from the D decision of the High Court of Judicature of Punjab and Haryana instituted a suit in the year 1963 against appellant no. 1 alone (for the sake of brevity described as the appellant hereinafter in this judgment) praying for a decree for permanent injunction against him ·to restrain him 'from interfering with the maintaining of the Guru Granth Sahib for religious recitals in the Darbar Sahib in the Dharmsala also known as Dharmsala Dera Baba Jaimal Singh situated in village E Balsarai Tehsil and District Amritsar as also restraining him from interfering with the plaintiffs and other satsangis rights of reciting the Guru Granth Sahib and holding and joining the religious congregations and Satsang in the above mentioned Gurdwara Baba Jaimal Singh."

About 70 years prior to the institution of the suit. one Sant Baba Jaimal Singh used to reside and practise spritual sadhana at the place F aforesaid. The residents of village Balsarai held him in great respect because of his high spiritual achievements and noble living. He got a· Dharamsala built which came to be' known as Gurdwara and accord-· ing to the case of the plaintiffs Guru Granth Sahib was also installed · there. The villagers gifted and dedicated 11 kanals, 16 marlas of land out of village Shamilat to the Gran th Sahib in the year 1897. Several persons succeeded as the Manager /Trustee or Head of the Institution G so establish~d one after the other after the demise of Sant Baba Jaimal Singh-the appellant being the last one at the relevant time. The plaintiffs who filed the suit in a representative capacity on behalf of the devot·~es of the Gurdwara in the first instance had wanted to institute the suit after obtaining the consent of the Advocate-General of Punjab in accordance with section 92 of the Civil Procedure Code-hereinafter ref.erred to as the Code. But they failed to obtain thi: consent of H the Advocate-General. Later on the plaintiffs instituted the suit endeavouring to frame it in such a manner so as to take it out of the ambit of section 92 of the Code. The grievance of the plaintiffs in the suit has beei:J. that the appellant was committing a breach of trust by

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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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not using the Dcra in general and Darbar Sahib in particular for the purpose for which the same was dedicated. He had s_tarted denying the rights of the people to the Dera and Darbar Sahib and Guru Granth Sahib asserting that allowing them to do so depend upon his sweet will and discretion. The plaintiffs, claiming a right in the institution for the Granth Sahib made a grievance that the appellant was interfering with their right and was not discharging his d_uties as he ought to do in accordance with the objects of the religious institution in question. ln substance the relief claimed against the appellant is to prevent him from committing any breach of the trust and to direct him to perform his duties as a Manager or Trustee of the religious institution to carry out its objects.

Several pleas were raised by the appellant in his written statement to resist the suit. Many of them were by way of preliminary objections to the maintainability of the suit. Tirlok Singh, appellant no. 2 and- two others were added as defendants 2 to 4 in the suit at their instance. The Court of the Subordinate Judge, Second Class at Amritsar framed as many as 7 preliminary issues and decided most of them in favour of the plaintiffs. But the issue as to whether the suit was competent in the absence of the consent of the Advocate-General under section 92 of the Code was decided against the plaintiffs. So the suit was dismissed. The fact that the institution was a Public Trust of a religious nature and that the suit had been filed by the plaintiffs in a representative capacity are no longer in dispute. One of the pleas taken by the appellant was that the suit was barred in view of the provisions of law contained in the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act. 1961, Punjab Act No. 18 of 1961. But this plea was rejected by the Trial Court. From the dismissal of the suit plaintiffs went up in appeal. The first Appellate Court affirmed the decision of the Trial Court. They went up in a regular second appeal before the High Court. A learned Judge of the High Court dismissed the plaintiffs appeal on the ground that their suit was hit by s-~ction 92 of the Code. One of the plaintiffs and two of the added defendants namely defendants 3 and 4 died during the pendency of the second appeal in the High Court. Their heirs were not substituted. The appellant's plea that the appeal had abated as a whole was not accepted by the learned single Judge. He also held against him on the point of the suit being allegedly barred under Punjab Act 18 of 1961. On grant of leave unde:r clause 10 of the Letters-Patent-the case was taken further before the Letters Patent Bench. The learned Judges constituting the Bench have allowed the Letters Patent appeal, remitted back the case to the Trial Court holding in favour of the respondents that the suit is not barr·d under sction 92 of the Code. The surviving two defendants have come up · Jo this· Court. ,

B

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Mr. Bishan Narain, learned counsel for the appellant, urged the following points in support of the appeal : -

< 1) The judgment of the High Court in relation to section 92 of the Code is erroneous in law. The suit was barred under the sai9 provision--0f the Code.

H

CHARAN SINGH v. DARSHAN SINGH (Untwa/ia, J.)

53

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B

( 2) The plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the suit as the property of the institution -vested in the Panchayat under Punjab Act 18 of--1961. ·

( 3) On the death of one of the plaintiffs appellants during . the pendency of the second appeal in the High Court ,

._ the whole of the appeal abated and ought to have been dismissed as such.

The last two points may be shortly disposed of as they have to be stated merely to be rejected. Point no. (2) was eventually given up as it was completely devoid of substance. S\nce the suit had been filed in a representative capacity, it is clear that on the death of one of the plaintiffs it did not abate. In Raja Anand Rao v. Rcimdas Daduram and others(¹ ) it has been said Lord Dunadin at page 16 "There was c also a point that the person who originally raised the suit and got the sanction having died the suit could not go on, but thi;:re does not seem any force in that point either, it being a suit which is not prosecuted by individuals for their own interests, but as representatives of the general public. It is plain that . the second appeal did not lose its competancy on the death of one of the plaintiffs appellants. The only point which requires discussion and determination in this appeal !s whether the D suit filed by the plaintiffs was barred under-·sub-section (2) of section 92 of the Code. ·

It is well-settled that a suit of the nature envisaged by section 92( 1) of the Code to obtain a decree for any one or more of the reliefs enumerated in clauses (a) to (h) of the Code has to be filed by the Advocate-General or· two or more persons having an interest in E the Trust with the consent in writing of the Advocate-General. Subsection (2) provides that save under certain circumstances" ....... . no suit claiming any of the reliefs specified in sub-section (1 ). shall be instituted in respect of any such trust as is therein referred to except in conformity with the provisions of that sub-section." Out of the 3 conditions which are necessary to be fulfilled for the application of section 92, two are indisputably present irr this case viz. ( 1) the suit F relates to a Public Charitable or Religious Trust; (2) it is founded on an alleg,ation of a breach of trust and the direction of the Court is required for administration of the trust. The/debate arid disoute between the parties centered round the requirement. of the fulfilment of the third condition namely whether the reliefs claimed are 'those which are mentioned in sub-section ( 1) of section 92 of the Code. A suit may be instituted under section 92(1) to obtain a decree-

(a) "removing any trustee;

(b) appointing- a new trustee;

( c) vesting any property_ in a trustee;

(cc) directing a trustee who has been removed or a person who has ceased to be a trustee, tci deliveri possession

H of any trust property in his possession to the person entitled to the possession of such property;

(!) 48 I.A.R 12.

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(d) directing accounts and inquiries;

( e) declaring what proportion of the trust-property or of the interest therein shall be allocated to any particular object of the trust;

(f) authorizing the whole or any part of the tri.:st-property to be let, sold, mortgaged or exchanged;

B

(g) settling a scheme; or

(h) granting such further or other relief as the nature of the case may require."

The High Court in the Letters Patent appeal has taken the view that the relief sought for in the suit does not fall under any of the clauses (a) to (h) of section 92 of the Code. Learned counsel for the appellant has assailed this view and submitted that the relief sought for falls under clause ( e) or (g) or in any event under clause (h). In our iudgment the relief sought for in this case does not strictly or squarely fall, within claus·e ( e) or (g) but is very much akin to either nnd hence is covered by the residuary clause (h).

Lord Sinha delivering the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the P.rivy Council in Abdur Rahim and others v. Syed Abu Mahomed Barkat Ali Shah and others(¹ ) rejected the argument that the words "such further or other relief as the nature of the case may require" occuring in clause (h) must be taken, not in connection with the previous· clauses (a) to (g) but in connection with the natur·:: of the suit. The argument was that any relief other than (a) to (g) in the case of an alleged breach of an express or constructive trust as may be required in the circumstances of any particular case was covered by clause (h). It was repelled on the ground that the words "further or other relief" must on general principles of construction be taken to mean relief of the same nature as clause (a) to (g). It would be noticed that the word used after clause (g) and before clause (h) is "or". It may mean "and" in the context, or remain "or' in the disjunctive sense in a given case. lf any further relief is asked for in addition to any of the reliefs mentioned in clauses (a) to (g) as the nature of .the case may require, then the word "or" would mean "and". But if the relief for is other reli:!f which is not by way of a consequential or additional reliefs in terms of clause (a) to (g}, then the word "or" will mean "or". The other relief however, cannot be of a nature which is not akin to or of the same nature as any of the reliefs mentioned in clauses (a) to (g). According to the plaintiffs' case one of the objects of the religious trust was the worship of Granth Sahib and its recital in congregations of the public. In the suit a decree declaring what portion of the trust property should be allocated to the said object could be asked for under clause ( e). The plaintiffs could also ask for the settling of a scheme under clause (g) aH~ging . mismanagem1:nt of the religious trust on t}Je part of the trustees. In the settlement of the scheme could be indiiaed the worship and recital of Granth Sahib-the holy Granth. The plaintiffs in their plaint did not

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(1) A.I.R. 1928 Privy Council, 16 : SS Indian Appeals 96.

CHARAN SIN(JH _v, P~RSHAN SINGH ( Untwalia, !. ) 5 5

A in terms askJor the one .or the. other. They, however, alleged acts of breach of trust, mismanagement, undue interference with ·the right of the public in the worship of Granth Sahib. They wanted a decree of the Court against 'the appellant to force him to carry out the objects of the trust and to perform his duties as a Trustee. Reading the plaint as a whole it is not ·a suit where the plaintiffs wanted a declaration of their right in the religious institution in respect of the Granth · Sahib. B But it was a suit where they wanted enforcement of due performance· of the duties of the truste~ .in relation to a particular object of the trust. It is well-settled that the maintainability of the suit under section 92 of the Code depends upon the allegations in the plaint and does not fall for decision with reference to the averments in the written statement.

c

In Mahant Pragdasji Guru Bhagwandasji v. Patel Ishwarlalbhai Narsibhai and others(!) it was pointed out at page 517 by Mukherjea, 'J, as he then was, speaking for the Court "A suit under section 92, Civil Procedure Code, is a suit of a special nature which presupposes the existence of a public trust of a religious or charitable charaeter. · Such suit can proceed only on the allegation that there is a breach of D such trust or that directions from the court are necessary for the administration thereof, and it must pray for one or other of the reliefs that are specifically mentioned in. the section. It is only when these conditions are fulfilled that the suit has got to be brought in conformity with the provi_sion of section ~2, Civil Procedure Code. As was observed by the Privy Council in Abdur Rahim v. Barkat Ali(2), a suit for a declaration that certain property appertains to a religious [ trust may lie under the general law but is outside the scope of section. 92, Civil Procedure Code." In a very recent decision, this Court speaking through one of us (Mathew, J) in the case of Swami Paramatma• nand Saraswati and another v. Ramji Tripathi and another(³ ) has reiterated the same view in paragraph lO at page 699 wherein it has been further added "It is, therefore, clear that if the allegation of breach of trust is not substantiated or that the plaintiff had not made out a F case for any direction by the court for proper administration of the trust, the very foundation of a suit under the section would fail; and, even if all the other ingredients of a suit under section 92 are made out, if it is clear that the plaintiffs are not suing to vindicate the right <i. the public but are seeking a declaration of their individual or personal rights or the individual or personal rights of any other person or persons in whom they are interested, then the suit would be outside G the scope of Section 92."

Mr. B. P. Maheshwari, learned counsel for the respondents placed trong reliance upon a decision of the Patna High Court in Ganpat Pujari v. Kanaiyalal Marwari() and the decision of this Court in Harendra Nath Bhattacharya &: ors. v. Kalimaram Das-4ead by

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{I) [1952] S.C.R.513. · (2) ('1928) 55 Indian Appeals, 96. (3) [1974] II S.C.C. 695. (4) AJ.R. 1933 Patna. 246.

(3) [1974] II S.C.C. 695.

< s > [t972J 2 s.c.R. 492.

[197 5] 3 fl,C,tl.

SUPREME COURT REPORTS

56

Lr.r.() In the Patha case the first relief asked for in the suit was for an adjudication of the property in the ·suit belonging to the g4neral public and for a declaration of their right to that effect. The Thakurbari in question was claimed to be a public property to which the entire Hindu community was entitled to go and worship. The appeal arising out of the suit crune up before Wort and Fazal Ali, JJ as they then were. There was a difference of opinion as to the application of section 92 of the Cock between them, the latter taking the view that section 92 of the Code was not a bar. On reference to the third learned Judge, Kulwant Sahay, J. agreeing with the view of Fazal Ali, J hdd that the relief claimed in the suit was not covered by clauses (a) to (h) of st"ction 92. The facts of the instant case are different and the Letters Patent Appeal Bench of the Punjab High Court committed an t:rror in applying the ratio of the Patna case to the facts of the present c:ase. In the case of Jlarendra Nath Bhattacharya & Ors,·vKalimram Das-Dead by L.Rs. (supra), Grover, J dellvering the judgment of this Court referred to the analysis made by the High Court as to the reliefs claiimed in the plaint. of that suit. In the main thre were 4 reliefs as enumerated at pages 498 and 499 of the report. Reliefs (1) (2) and { 4) . were clearly outside the scope of section 92 of the Code. Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that relief no. 3 which was very much akin to the relief in the present suit was also held to b1~ a relief not covered by any of tht!.. clauses of sub-section (1) of section 92 of the Code. In our opinion the contention is not sound and cannot be accepted. The third relief in that case as analysed by the Court was in the following tenns :

A

B

c

D

E

" ( 3)" For a declaration that the plaintiffs as Bhakats of the Satra was entitled to possess their own Basti and paddy lands and that they had a right to access to the use of the Satra for various religious purposes."

F

There were two parts of the said relief-one a declaration that the plaintifls as Bhak.ats of the Satra were entitled to possess their own Basti and paddy lands and the other that they had a right to access to the use of the Satra for various religious purposes. Such a relief could not come under clause (h) because it was mainly concerned with the establishment of the rights of the plaintiffs in the lands as well as in the religious institution.' In the plaint of the instant case the relief Claimed is not primarily for the establishment of the right of the public to the religious institution. It recites the facts as to the right without mentioning any appreciable dispute concerning it, mainly

G

H

57

CHARAN SINGH v. DARSHAN SINGH (Untwalia, J.)

A alleges breach of duty on the part of the trustee and the plaintiffs seek the court's aid against the trustee for forcing him to discharge his obligations by due performance of his duties. In ou_r judgment therefore the Courts below were right in taking the view that the present suit was a suit for a decree under section 92 of the Code and since it B was not filed in conformity with the requirement of the Code and since it was not filed in conformity with the requirement of the said provision of law it was not maintainable. The contrary view taken by 'the ·Division Bench of the High Court in the Letters Patent Appeal is not correct.

In the result the appeal succeeds, the judgment of the High Court dated the 13th December, 1973 in L.P.A. No. 573 of 1971 is set aside. c In the circumstances, we make no order as to costs in this appeal.

P.H.P.

Appeal allowed.

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Judgment and Order of the Letters Patent Bench of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in L.P.A. No. 573 of 1971, delivered on 13 December 1973, which allowed the Letters Patent appeal and remitted the case back to the Trial Court, holding that the suit was not barred under section 92 of the Civil Procedure Code.¶73
Punjab & Haryana High Court (Letters Patent Bench) · 13th December, 1973
Prior proceeding
Plaintiffs (respondents) instituted a suit in 1963 against appellant no. 1 alone, praying for a decree of permanent injunction restraining him from interfering with the maintenance and recital of Guru Granth Sahib in the Darbar Sahib of Dharmsala Dera Baba Jaimal Singh, village Balsarai, Tehsil and District Amritsar, and from interfering with the rights of satsangis to recite Guru Granth Sahib and hold/join religious congregations and Satsang.¶77
Prior proceeding
The plaintiffs first wanted to institute the suit after obtaining the consent of the Advocate-General of Punjab under section 92 CPC but failed to obtain it; they then instituted the suit endeavouring to frame it so as to take it out of the ambit of section 92 of the Code.¶78
Prior proceeding
Trial Court (Court of the Subordinate Judge, Second Class, Amritsar) framed 7 preliminary issues; the issue whether the suit was competent in the absence of the Advocate-General's consent under section 92 was decided against the plaintiffs and the suit was dismissed.¶85
Prior proceeding
On appeal from the dismissal, the first Appellate Court affirmed the decision of the Trial Court.¶85
Prior proceeding
In regular second appeal, a learned Judge of the High Court dismissed the plaintiffs' appeal on the ground that the suit was hit by section 92 of the Code.¶85
Prior proceeding
Appellant had also pleaded that the suit was barred under the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Act, 1961 (Punjab Act No. 18 of 1961); the Trial Court rejected this plea, and the learned single Judge also held against the appellant on this point.¶85
Prior proceeding
During the pendency of the second appeal, one of the plaintiffs and added defendants 3 and 4 died; their heirs were not substituted; the appellant's plea that the appeal had abated as a whole was not accepted by the learned single Judge.¶85
Prior proceeding
On grant of leave under clause 10 of the Letters Patent, the case went before the Letters Patent Bench.¶85
Prior proceeding
The Letters Patent Bench allowed the appeal and remitted the case back to the Trial Court, holding in favour of the respondents that the suit was not barred under section 92 of the Code.¶85