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Rajusingh Naik Shikshan Prasarak ... vs State Of Maharashtra & 4 Others
2016 Latest Caselaw 1707 Bom

Citation : 2016 Latest Caselaw 1707 Bom
Judgement Date : 21 April, 2016

Bombay High Court
Rajusingh Naik Shikshan Prasarak ... vs State Of Maharashtra & 4 Others on 21 April, 2016
Bench: B.P. Dharmadhikari
    Judgment                                                                    wp4038.01

                                           1




                                                                            
                  IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                            NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR.




                                                    
                      WRIT PETITION  Nos. 4038 & 4039 OF  2001.




                                                   
                                       **********




                                        
    WRIT PETITION  No. 4038 OF  2001.
                               
           Rajusingh Naik Shikshan Prasarak
           Mandal, Pusad, District Yavatmal
                              
           through its President Shri Arun
           s/o. Punamchand Naik, aged 50
           years, r/o. Near Fulaji Hospital,
           Washim, Taluq and District 
      

           Washim.                                               ....PETITIONER.
   



                                       VERSUS





      1. State of Maharashtra,
         through its Secretary, Social
         Justice Cultural Affairs and Sports
         Department, Mantralaya,
         Mumbai - 32.





      2. Director of Social Welfare
         State of Maharashtra,
         Pune.

      3. Divisional Social Welfare
         Officer, Amravati Division,
         Amravati.




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     Judgment                                                                wp4038.01

                                            2


      4. District Social Welfare Officer,




                                                                        
         Washim, Taluq and District
         Washim.




                                                
      5. Shri Nathnange Maharaj Shikshan
         Sanstha, a registered Public Trust
         through its Secretary Shri Ratan
         s/o Vithobaji Gid, aged about




                                               
         38 years, r/o. At and post 
         Kinhiraja, Tahsil Malegaon,
         District Akola.                                     ....RESPONDENTS
                                                                            . 




                                       
                                ig     WITH 
                              
    WRIT PETITION  No. 4039 OF  2001.

           Rajusingh Naik Shikshan Prasarak
      


           Mandal, Pusad, District Yavatmal
           through its President Shri Arun
   



           s/o. Punamchand Naik, aged 50
           years, r/o. Near Fulaji Hospital,
           Washim, Taluq and District 
           Washim.                                           ....PETITIONER.





                                      VERSUS





      1. State of Maharashtra,
         through its Secretary, Social
         Justice Cultural Affairs and Sports
         Department, Mantralaya,
         Mumbai - 32.

      2. Director of Social Welfare
         State of Maharashtra,
         Pune.




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     Judgment                                                                           wp4038.01

                                                3




                                                                                   
      3. Divisional Social Welfare
         Officer, Amravati Division,
         Amravati.




                                                          
      4. District Social Welfare Officer,
         Washim, Taluq and District
         Washim.




                                                         
      5. Gajadharji Rathod Bahuuddeshiya 
         Shikshan Sanstha, Wai (Gaul), 
         Tahsil  Manora, District Washim




                                             
         through its Secretary.                                         ....RESPONDENTS
                                                                                       . 
                               
                              
                           ----------------------------------- 
           Mr. M.G. Bhangde, Senior  Advocate with  Shri R.B. Rathod, 
                             Advocate for petitioner.
        Ms. P.D. Rane and Mr. M.M. Ekre, Assistant Government Pleaders 
      

                   for respondent no.1 State and its officers.  
      Mr. A.M. Ghare, Advocate for  respondent no.5 ( in W.P.No.4038/2001)
   



             Mr. P.C. Madkholkar, Advocate for  respondent no.5 (in 
                               W.P.No.4039/2001).
                           ------------------------------------





                                        CORAM :  B.P. DHARMADHIKARI
                                                     & P.N. DESHMUKH , JJ.

DATED : APRIL 21, 2016.

ORAL JUDGMENT. (Per B.P. Dharmadhikari, J)

Very same petitioner has filed these two petitions questioning

order dated 06.10.2001, passed by the respondent no.1 State Government,

Judgment wp4038.01

whereby the earlier order transferring the Management of two basic Ashram

Schools, then run by the petitioners to respective respondent no.5 on

19.08.1998 and 14.12.1998 have been maintained. The Ashram Schools

were allotted to petitioners at place Kumbhi Tanda and Sonda, respectively

in then Washim Tahsil.

2. Challenge in Writ Petition No. 4038/2001 pertains to said school

at Sonda, administration of which has been handed over to respondent no.5

Shri Nathnange Maharaj Shikshan Sanstha. Challenge in Writ Petition

No.4039/2001, is about Ashram School at Kumbhi Tanda, which has been

allotted to respondent no.5 Gajadhar Rathod Bahuuddeshiya Shikshan

Sanstha.

3. We have heard Shri M.G. Bhangde, learned Senior Counsel with

Shri R.B. Rathod, learned Counsel for petitioners, Ms. P.D. Rane and Shri

M.M. Ekre, learned Assistant Government Pleaders for respondent no.1 State

and its officers. Shri A.M. Ghare, learned Counsel has argued the matter on

behalf of respondent no.5 in Writ Petition No.4038/2001 and Shri P.C.

Madkholkar, learned Counsel has argued the matter on behalf of respondent

no.5 in Writ Petition No.4039/2001.

Judgment wp4038.01

4. Shri M.G. Bhangde, learned Senior Counsel submits that the

Ashram School at Kumbhi Tanda was allotted to petitioner on grant-in-aid

basis in 1985, while the Ashram School at Sonda was similarly allotted in

the year 1987. The Schools were functioning satisfactorily, however, on

21.03.1996, the District Social Welfare Officer has issued show cause notice

in relation to both the schools. No action thereafter was taken and show

cause notices were not acted upon. On 07.12.1996, separate show cause

notices were issued by the Director of Social Welfare, calling upon the

petitioner to submit its explanation and warning that if explanation was not

received, further action to cancel recognition or to hand over management,

would be taken. Petitioners submitted its reply to these show cause notices

on 22.12.1996. Thereafter, an order came to be passed on 23.05.1997,

merely observing that explanation tendered by the petitioner was not

satisfactory and, therefore, the Director of Social Welfare proceeded to

appoint an Administrator on both the schools. The District Social Welfare

Officer, Akola came to be appointed as an Administrator for a period of one

year. The Administrator did not take over the charge and then by order

dated 19.08.1998 (in Writ Petition No. 4038/2001) and later by order dated

14.12.1998 (in Writ Petition No. 4039/2001), the Management of schools

respectively at Kumbhi Tanda and Sonda, came to be transferred to

respondent no.5 Institution in respective Writ Petitions.

Judgment wp4038.01

5. Order dated 19.08.1998, transferring Kumbhi Tanda school only

was questioned by present Petitioner in Writ Petition No. 3137/1998.

During pendency of that challenge and a Contempt Petition No.52/1999,

which petitioner was required to file on 12.08.1999, the State Government

withdrew the order dated 19.08.1998 as also order dated 14.12.1998. Shri

Nathnange Maharaj Shikshan Sanstha filed Writ Petition No. 3248/1999,

while Gajadhar Rathod Bahuuddeshiya Shikshan Sanstha filed Writ Petition

No. 340/1999, challenging this order dated 12.08.1999. Division Bench of

this Court considered these two Writ Petitions along with Writ Petition

No.3137/1998 on 11.06.2001, and passed separate orders. Writ Petition

No. 3248/1999 was allowed after finding that no opportunity of hearing was

given to that petitioner - Nathnange Maharaj Shikshan Sanstha, who was

placed in management of Sonda Ashram School. The order dated

12.08.1999, was therefore, set aside and matter was remanded back to the

State Government for reconsidering the same. In the backdrop of these

reasons, Writ Petition No. 340/1999, pertaining to Kumbhi Tanda Ashram

School was also allowed and disposed of on same lines. As the matters were

to be reheard by the State Government, Writ Petition No.3137/1998 filed by

this Petitioner was disposed of by in view of its statement that challenge in

the petition did not survive.

Judgment wp4038.01

6. After this adjudication, petitioner submitted a representation on

03.07.2001 pointing out that orders transferring management of its Schools

to respective respondent no. 5 were passed behind its back, without any

knowledge to it and in absence of any statutory provisions to support it.

The representation was repeated on 01.10.2001, where plea of absence of

powers in respondents to order such transfer was specifically taken and it

was also brought on record that no notice under the provisions of the

Maharashtra Educational Institution (Transfer of Management) Act, 1971

(hereinafter referred to as "the 1971 Act" for short), was issued at any point

of time to the petitioner.

7. Shri Bhangde, learned Senior Counsel submits that in the wake of

these representations, even after High Court orders dated 11.06.2001

mentioned supra, no show cause notice was served upon the petitioner and

on 06.10.2001 the impugned orders maintaining earlier transfers of

management i.e. orders dated 19.08.1998 and 14.12.1998 are passed. He

submits that this order therefore, suffers from vice of violation of principles

of natural justice, as it does not specifically consider the say of the

petitioners, and does not record any finding on it. He states that the

application of mind therein is not "case- specific", no reasons as to why the

Judgment wp4038.01

new management is permitted or then why the 1971 Act is applicable to

the Ashram Schools are recorded..

8. Shri Bhangde, learned Senior Counsel therefore, submits that

Schools legally allotted to petitioners have been transferred to different

managements high highhandedly, and therefore, the same may be restored

back to the petitioner.

9.

Ms. Rane and Shri Ekre, learned respective A.G.Ps, oppose the

petition. They state that initial order dated 23.05.1997 is under Section 3 of

the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Management) Act, 1976

(hereinafter referred to as "the 1976 Act" for short), and the said provision

enables the respondents to take over institution i.e. also to take over

management and thereafter hand it over to any other management. The

order dated 23.05.1997 considers these provision and is also after grant of

opportunity to petitioner. The conclusion, that the explanation furnished by

the petitioner was not satisfactory, is also recorded. This appointment of

Administrator was never questioned by the petitioner. As the situation was

helpless and Administrator could not take over charge, the State

Government, vide later two orders transferred management to respective

respondent no.5. Order dated 19.08.1998, was only questioned before this

Judgment wp4038.01

Court in Writ Petition No. 3137/1998, while order dated 14.12.1998

relating to transfer of Sonda School was never assailed. Our attention is

also drawn to the fact that under Section 3[4] of the 1976 Act, a remedy of

filing appeal was available, but, the petitioner did not file any such appeal.

It is submitted that when the Administrator was appointed initially,

provisions of 1971 Act were not used and order appointing Administrator

was never questioned by the petitioner, as such the argument of violation of

principles of natural justice is erroneous and misconceived.

10. The impugned order dated 06.10.2001 is read out to demonstrate

that it contains necessary application of mind.

11. Shri Ghare, learned Counsel appearing for respondent no.5 in Writ

Petition No. 4038/2001 has invited our attention to written submissions

filed by the said respondent. He states that respondent no.4 found

condition of School at Sonda so bad that he was unable to take over charge

as an Administrator. As such, he submitted his report and then a order of

transfer of Management of Sonda School to respondent no.5 came to be

passed on 14.12.1998. That order has attained finality as it was never

questioned by the petitioners before any Court or Authority. He invites our

attention to a communication dated 28.01.1997, send by the petitioner to

Judgment wp4038.01

one of the teachers in Ashram School at Sonda. It contains a statement that

the petitioner - Management had already decided to close down that school.

Learned advocate has invited our attention to first show cause notice dated

21.03.1996 and later one dated 07.12.1996. Warning to the Petitioner of

handing over administration of both the Ashram Schools, in case

explanations thereto were not found not satisfactory by the department was

already given and within knowledge of petitioner. Petitioner submitted

identical reply on 26.12.1996, but, in that reply, did not meet the facts on

deficiencies or lacunae noticed and reply contained general comments.

Allotment or handing over of management of Sonda School to respondent

no.5 in Writ Petition No. 4038/2001 is being questioned only after the

matter came to be remanded by this Court on 11.06.2001. He relies upon

the order dated 14.12.1998 to urge that the school allotted to the petitioner

at Sonda has been shifted to other place by the respondent no.5. He

contends that as transfer of management to respondent no.5 and School at

Sonda did not form part of challenge in Writ Petition No.3137/1998, order

dated 12.08.1999 canceling that allotment to respondent no.5 is without

jurisdiction. He further argues that in this situation, orders of this Court

dated 11.06.2001, cannot reopen the controversy which had attained

finality.

Judgment wp4038.01

12. Shri Madkholkar, learned Counsel appearing for respondent no.5

in Writ Petition No.4039/2001, adopts the arguments of learned A.G.Ps. as

also of Advocate Ghare. He submits that show cause notice served upon the

petitioner on 07.12.1996, contains the instances which show improper and

unsatisfactory working as also mismanagement. Show cause notice

expressly called upon the petitioner to explain why approval or recognition

should not be canceled or then, the management should not be transferred.

He has invited our attention to reply filed by the petitioner thereto on

26.12.1996 to urge that the petitioner has accepted those lacunae or

instances or improper management. According to him, the reply itself shows

inability of the petitioner to manage the Ashram School, and in this

background first order dated 26.05.1997, appointing Administrator for a

period of one year is fully justified. The petitioner did not challenge

appointment of Administrator and hence, has acquiesced in it. Even in Writ

Petition No.3137/1998, the petitioner did not make any grievance about

appointment of Administrator and ultimately the said petition was

withdrawn on 11.06.2001. Therefore, according to him the impugned order

which upholds transfer of management is, liable to be maintained. He

reiterates that after transfer of management, the question of validity of

appointment of Administrator is no longer open. Our attention is drawn to a

representation dated 23.09.1997 submitted by the petitioner to the State

Judgment wp4038.01

Government, in which the petitioner is shown as appellant and the Director

of Social Welfare has been shown as respondent. Shri Madkholkar, learned

counsel submits that this representation or appeal contained a prayer to

cancel the order dated 23.05.1997, by which the Administrator was

appointed. However, thereafter said challenge was never pressed.

13. In the background, he has invited our attention to Section 8 of the

1976 Act, to urge that the inability of Administrator to assume charge or

then of management to function is taken care of, and in that eventuality,

management can be handed over to other management as mentioned

therein. He has invited our attention to the fact that respondent no.5 has

continued with the management of schools for a period over 17 years, and in

this situation, at this juncture the management of said schools or teaching

therein cannot be disturbed. He contends that there are no complaints

whatsoever against the respondent no.5 and taking over all view of the

matter, the Government may have exercised its special privilege and power

to hand over the schools of petitioners to respective respondent no.5.

14. Without prejudice he submits that the petitioner have not

produced before this Court any material to demonstrate that today they are

equipped to manage the schools, if schools are handed over to them. In this

Judgment wp4038.01

situation, by way of abundant precaution, Adv. Madkholkar adds that if

remand of matter back to the respondent for fresh consideration is needed,

the position prevailing today cannot be disturbed.

15. He has relied upon the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court

reported at (2013) 1 SCC 1 (Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd

and others .vs. Securities and Exchange Board of India and another)

(paragraph nos. 258, 259 and 262) to urge that mere argument of violation

of principles of natural justice is not sufficient in such cases, and unless and

until the petitioner demonstrates accompanying prejudice, the impugned

action can not be held vitiated. As no such prejudice has been demonstrated

in present matter, the petition is liable to be dismissed.

16. In its reply arguments, learned Senior Counsel Shri Bhangde, has

invited our attention to Section 8 of the 1976 Act. That section applies only

when the Administrator completes his tenure and the school is to be handed

over back to the original management. He points out the peculiar

arrangement made therein and submits that as in present case, no action has

been taken under 1971 Act, in absence of adherence to the procedure

stipulated in said section, the management of petitioner school cannot

continue with respondent no.5. He states that in Writ Petition filed earlier

Judgment wp4038.01

vide Writ Petition No. 3137/1998, though order dated 14.12.1998 was not

in question, orders dated 19.08.1998 and 14.12.1998 were withdrawn by

the State Government itself. Said withdrawal or cancellation was questioned

by respective respondent no.5 by filing Writ Petition Nos. 3248/1999 and

340/1999. Division Bench of this Court after hearing all concerned, by a

reasoned order, directed the State Government to reconsider the issue. As

such according to him, order dated 19.08.1998 or 14.12.1998 do not revive

and an exercise for passing of suitable orders was required to be undertaken

afresh. In view of this development, it was not necessary to have any

adjudication in Writ Petition No. 3137/1997, on merits. He further

contends that inherent lack of powers or jurisdiction in State Government to

order change of management can be pointed out in any judicial proceedings

at any point of time. He relies upon a judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court

reported at (1979) 2 SCC 34 (Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and

others .vrs. B.S. Dixitulu and others) particularly paragraph no.24

therein, to buttress this submissions.

17. He submits that none of the respondents before this Court have

pointed out any disqualification or absence of eligibility in petitioners to

receive back the Ashram Schools. He contends that after appointment of

Administrator on 23.05.1997, earlier show cause notice or proceedings in

Judgment wp4038.01

relation thereto came to an end and stood exhausted. Appointment of

Administrator thereafter would have been and has to be an independent

exercise in adherence to principles of natural justice. If management was to

be transferred or handed over to a third party, petitioners ought to have

been heard and for that necessary opportunity should have been extended to

petitioners. As that has not been done, the orders dated 14.12.1998 and

19.08.1998 in favour of respective respondent no.5 are without jurisdiction

and unsustainable. He adds that no such change of hands is possible in view

of Section 8 of 1976 Act.

18. He further submits that the petitioner had submitted

representations on two occasions after the judgment of Division Bench of

this Court dated 11.06.2001. Necessary factual matrix have been made

available in it. That material needed consideration by the respondent State

Government before passing the impugned order dated 06.10.2001. The

competency of the petitioners to administer the school, availability of

infrastructure or other aspects having bearing upon it, are all facts which

needed evaluation in order dated 06.10.2001, and as that has not been

done, the order is bad in law. Learned Senior Counsel submits that the

petitioner has approached this Court pointing out non-application of mind

and it is not for this Court to record any finding about eligibility or absence

Judgment wp4038.01

thereof qua Petitioner. If respondents wanted to raise any such defence,

they ought to have made relevant material available to this Court.

19. He further contends that the petitioners have all the while been

making attempt to obtain the schools back. They have accordingly made

representation after order dated 23.05.1997, and then approached this

Court in Writ Petition No. 3137/1998. The petitioners also submitted their

representation on 03.07.2001 and 01.10.2001 after remand ordered by this

Court on 11.06.2001. After adverse order dated 06.10.2001, present

petitions have been filed. Fact that petitions have remained pending before

this Court for 17 years, therefore, cannot be used to the detriment of the

present petitioner. He submits that ignoring said period, the issue needs to

be addressed to by considering the situation prevailing on 06.10.2001. He

therefore, prays for handing over back the management of both the schools

to petitioner.

20. We have examined the controversy in the light of these arguments.

The orders passed by the respondents are dated 23.05.1997,

19.08.1998, 14.12.1998, 12.08.1999 and 06.10.2001. The

judgment/orders of this Court dated 11.06.2001 also need

appreciation.

Judgment wp4038.01

21. There were, in past, three writ petitions before this Court i.e.

Writ Petition No. 3137 of 1998 filed by present petitioner, Writ Petition

No. 3248 of 1999 and Writ Petition No. 340 of 1999 filed by respective

Respondent No. 5 in present petitions. Those writ petitions are

disposed of on 11.06.2001. Writ Petition No. 3137 of 1998 was not

pressed because of adjudication in Writ Petition No. 3248 of 1999. The

judgment delivered in Writ Petition No. 3248 of 1998 on the very same

day reveals that the order dated 12.08.1999, transferring management

of the petitioner's School at Sonda to the respondent No.5 in that

petition was set aside and the matter was remanded to Respondent No.

1 - State for considering the issue regarding allotment of Ashram

School, Sonda, after hearing the concerned parties. The present

petitioner was Respondent No. 5 in said Writ Petition No. 3248 of

1999. Similarly, identical challenge in relation to Kunbhi Tanda

School was considered on the very same day in Writ Petition No. 340

of 1999 and that writ petition was also disposed of on the same lines.

The present petitioner was Respondent No. 3 in Writ Petition No. 340

of 1999. It is, therefore, obvious that after 11.06.2001, the orders

dated 19.08.1998 or 14.12.1998 do not survive. Directions issued on

Judgment wp4038.01

11.06.2001 by this Court have attained finality and acted upon or

acquiesced in by everybody. The contention of Shri Ghare, learned

counsel, that the order dated 14.12.1998 was not questioned by

present petitioner in its earlier Writ Petition No. 3137 of 1998 is,

therefore, not relevant.

22. Orders dated 19.08. 1998 and dated 14.12.1998 were

recalled by the State Government itself on 12.08.1999 and respective

Respondent No. 5 in present Writ Petitions were constrained to file

above mentioned Writ Petition No. 3248 of 1999 and Writ Petition No.

340 of 1999 against it. That order dated 12.08.1999 was set aside by

this Court and the State Government was supposed to pass fresh

orders after hearing all concerned. It, therefore, follows that the orders

dated 14.12.1998 and 19.08.1998 did not revive. The earlier order

dated 23.05.1997 did appoint an Administrator for a period of one

year on both Schools. In that order, grant of an opportunity to present

petitioner, personal visit on 24.11.1995 and report submitted

thereafter are mentioned. The contents of that report and absence of

coordination between management and staff was noted. This fact also

Judgment wp4038.01

finds mention in order dated 23.05.1997. Thereafter, in said order, it

is concluded that Ashram Schools were not being run by the Petitioner

to further the government objective and as per Government policy as

the management was not proper. Explanation to show cause notice

given by the Petitioner was found not satisfactory, and hence, the

Administrator came to be appointed. Thus, in its opening paragraph,

certain events which are prior to issuance of show cause notice have

been narrated and on that basis, after giving an opportunity to

Petitioner, an Administrator came to be appointed on both Schools.

This order dated 23.05.1997 is admittedly under Section 3 of 1976 Act.

Its life was one year and it was never questioned by the present

petitioner. It never came into force.

23. As the Administrator then could not take over charge of any

School, it is claimed that he submitted a report accordingly and on the

basis of that report, the order transferring the management to

respective Respondent No. 5 were passed on 19.08.1998 and

14.12.1998. Thus, those orders were passed after expiry of order

dated 23.05.1997 after a period in excess of 15 months. The

Judgment wp4038.01

Administrator could not assume the charge after 23.05.1997 and

ultimately the Government found it fit to transfer the management

itself.

24. In the light of judgment delivered by this Court on

11.06.2001, it is apparent that validity of this action needed to be

looked into. As the administrator supposed to manage the affairs of

both the Schools of Petitioner could not enter the management, the

first order appointing the administrator never came into being and

never operated. We therefore find no substance in the contention of

Petitioners that said order dated 23.05.1997 exhausted itself. Inability

of the Petitioner to take over the management for whatever reasons,

can not have the effect of killing the order dated 23.05.1997.

25. After remand on 11.06.2001, the petitioner has submitted

two representations. Those representations are dated 03.07.2001 and

01.10.2001. In the said representations, it has pointed out absence of

an opportunity, absence of legal provisions, absence of power in

respondents to order such transfer of management. The respective

parties have invited our attention to provisions of 1976 Act as also

Judgment wp4038.01

1971 Act.

26. Shri Bhangde, learned Senior Advocate has pointed out that

while defining the School, 1976 Act, vide Section 2 specifically

envisages Ashram Schools and hence 1976 Act is applicable to

Petitioner's Ashram Schools. He has pointed out that 1971 Act which

defines Educational Institutions or institution, does not expressly

include Ashram School within its sweep. Though the respondents have

not expressly contended that this argument is erroneous, they have

attempted to urge that in present situation, the said 1971 Act can be

taken recourse to. Shri M.M. Ekre, learned AGP has pointed out that

during pendency of these petitions, the State Government has brought

into force a law by name " Ashram Shala Sanhita, 2006, (in Marathi)".

However, no provision therein is pressed into service and no arguments

have been advanced before us to show that said Sanhita (Code)

enables the respondents to transfer management from one Society to

other Society. Prayer clause "1-A" has been allowed to be added in

W.P. 4039 pf 2001 on 29.04.204 and thereby a prayer to quash and set

aside the GR dated 18.01.2003 permitting shifting of Kumbhi(Tanda)

Judgment wp4038.01

school to a village Shendona in other Tahsil has been made. None of

the parties have invited our attention to this prayer and no arguments

in that respect have been advanced.

27. It is in this situation that representations submitted by the

petitioner on 01.10.2001 needed appreciation. In the impugned order

passed thereafter on 06.10.2001, there is no application of mind qua

the objections raised by the Petitioner. Said order does not refer to any

legal provision as source of power to usher a new person or society into

management. The respondents have not pointed out as to how they

can divest the petitioner - management of its properties or the School

and entrust it to some third person/ institution/ Trust. Scheme

apparent from Section 3 or Section 8 of 1976 Act also does not find

any evaluation. We, therefore, find the order dated 06.10.2001

unsustainable.

28. However, here, the petitioners have not managed these two

Schools after 1998 till date, except for a brief period when because of

order dated 12.08.1999, the management was restored back. But after

1999, period of more than 16 years have now expired. Ashram School

Judgment wp4038.01

at Kumbhi(Tanda) is apparently being run in some other premises and

at a different place ie at village Shendona. The petitioner has not

shown to this Court that the petitioner is running any other Schools or

Ashram Schools. The petitioner has not shown that it has invested any

amount in purchasing movable or immovable property for these two

Ashram Schools. The petitioner has also not pointed out that the

respective Respondent No. 5 have not shifted the working place of

School to some other area. Respective respondent No. 5 have also not

pointed out any of these facts.

29. This Court has to give paramount importance to the

education in these Schools and see to it that this litigation does not

result any prejudice to the students therein or affect its staff. It is in

this situation, we find it not proper to disturb the management of

respective Respondent No. 5 on Schools with them though we quash

and set aside the impugned order dated 06.10.2001. We direct

Respondent No. 1 to hear the petitioner and respective Respondent No.

5 as also representative of department, afresh. The relevant records

shall also be perused. All facts and developments having bearing on

Judgment wp4038.01

establishment or location of these two Schools shall also be duly

evaluated. Petitioner as also the Respondents will be given due

opportunity to have their say in the matter. Keeping in mind all these

factors, the fresh decision on further course of action available, after

receipt of report of Administrator that he was not in a position to take

over the charge of two Ashram Schools shall be reached at the earliest.

30.

Respondent No. 1 shall proceed to procure relevant records

and material needed to complete this exercise. It shall permit the

parties to peruse it and submit their say in writing on it within

reasonable time. Respondent No. 1 shall then proceed to hear them

and take appropriate decision at the earliest and in any case within

next three months. We direct the parties to appear before Respondent

No. 1 for this purpose on 30.05.2016.

31. Till passing of such fresh orders by Respondent No. 1, the

conduct and management of respective Ashram Schools by Respondent

No. 5 shall not be disturbed. This interim arrangement shall be subject

to outcome of exercise to be completed by the Respondent No. 1.

Judgment wp4038.01

32. Writ Petitions are thus partly allowed and disposed of. Rule

is made absolute accordingly. No order as to costs.

                                     JUDGE                 JUDGE


    Rgd/GS.
                                 
                                
      
   







 

 
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