Madras High Court
Sri Ram Samaj vs The Commissioner on 27 April, 2022
W.A.No.1057 of 2022
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED: 27.04.2022
CORAM :
THE HON'BLE MR.MUNISHWAR NATH BHANDARI, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY
W.A.No.1057 of 2022
and C.M.P.Nos.7472, 7336, 6643 and 6646 of 2022
Sri Ram Samaj .. Appellant
vs
1. The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
Department, 34, Nungambakkam High Road,
Chennai 600 034.
2. The Assistant Commissioner,
34, Nungambakkam High Road,
Chennai 600 034.
3. The Thakkar/Executive Officer,
C/o.Arulmigu Balasubramania Swamy
Tirukkoil, Teynampet, Chennai 600 018.
4. M.V.Ramani .. Respondents
Prayer: Appeal filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent against the
order dated 17.03.2022 passed in W.P.No.449 of 2014 on the file of
this Court.
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For the Appellant : Mr.Satish Parasaran,
Sr. Counsel,
for Mr.R.Parthasarathy
For the Respondents : Mr.R.Shunmugasundaram
Advocate General
Assisted by Mr.N.R.R. Arun
Natarajan, Spl.Govt. Pleader
for RR 1 and 2
: Mr.A.K.Sriram
for M/s.A.S.Kailasam and Asso.
for Respondent No.3/Caveator
: Mr.T.S.Rajamohan
for Respondent No.4/Caveator
*****
JUDGMENT
(Judgment of the Court was delivered by
the Hon'ble Chief Justice)
By this writ appeal, challenge is made to the order dated
17.03.2022 whereby the writ petition preferred to challenge the
order dated 31.12.2013 was dismissed.
2. The writ petition was filed to challenge the order dated
31.12.2013 by which the respondents, after issuing notice to the
writ appellant, passed an order to appoint a Fit Person under
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Section 49 of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act,
1959 [in short, “the Act of 1959”] and, accordingly, the Executive
Officer/third respondent herein was appointed as Trustee of the
appellant society. The President of the appellant society was
directed to hand over the responsibilities to the Executive Officer of
Arulmigu Balasubramaniam Temple, Teynampet, Chennai.
3. Challenge to the order was made mainly on the ground that
before passing the order, the procedure given under the Act of 1959
was not applied and otherwise the order makes a reference to the
reply given by the appellant admitting certain facts to make out a
case to bring the appellant society under the definition of 'Temple'
given under Section 6(20) of the Act of 1959, though no admission
was made. The allegations made against the appellant could not
be proved by the respondent by adducing evidence. The order was
passed mainly in reference to the complaint made by none else than
a person who remained part of the society.
4. Elaborating the arguments, Mr.Satish Parasaran, learned
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senior counsel, submitted that the appellant is a Society registered
under the Societies Registration Act, 1975, running not only the
Mandapam in question, but also educational institution and doing
other religious activities. The appellant is maintaining a composite
account properly, yet by virtue of the provisions of the Act of 1959,
the Fit Person was appointed without causing a notice for
mismanagement of account. It was even without declaring the
appellant society to be falling under the definition of Section 6(20)
of the Act of 1959, rather what has been given in the order is that
ingredients exist to bring it under Section 6(20) of the Act of 1959.
5. The finding aforesaid has been recorded even without
adverting to the reply to the show cause notice where there was a
specific denial to the allegation of existence of Statue (of Deity)
installed as per Agamas and furthermore, there was a specific denial
of public worship. A specific reply was given that certain
photographs of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman exist in the
mandapam and the appellant society is involved in organising
meetings and lectures and celebrating Rama Navami every year. It
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is one of the objects for which the Society was created.
6. The learned Single Judge passed an interim order and
accordingly, the appellant society continued the possession and has
been administering all the institutions established under it. The writ
petition came to be dismissed vide the impugned order after
referring to certain facts and holding that an alternative remedy is
available. The dismissal of the writ petition on the ground of
availability of alternative remedy was after a lapse of eight years.
When the matter has been kept pending before the Court for years
together, it should have been decided after adjudication on merits,
instead of non-suiting the petitioner writ appellant on the ground of
alternative remedy.
7. The further allegation made by the writ appellant is against
the action of the respondent HR & CE department literally acting as
an instrument of the complainant and therefore, while issuing a
notice to show cause, no allegation was mentioned therein so as to
be replied. The learned counsel for the appellant referred to the
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show cause notice dated 22.05.2013 calling upon objections as to
why the appellant society shall not be brought under the domain of
the department for administration under the Act of 1959. It was
without disclosing any material and basis for taking it under the
domain of the HR & CE Department. Thus, the first show cause
notice was for the sake of it and as an empty formality.
8. The second show cause notice dated 17.06.2013 was also
of similar nature, though it makes a reference of spot inspection
made by the Assistant Commissioner and it is the case of the non-
appellant that a spot inspection was conducted thereupon, but the
impugned order does not refer to any spot inspection report. It was
based on whether the idol was found in the mandapam for public
worship. In view of the above, the impugned order was passed by
the department after causing show cause notice but without
referring to the spot inspection report. Thus, the order was passed
to satisfy the complainant and accordingly, the department became
an instrument of the complainant, though earlier, when similar
complaint was made by the same complainant in the year 2004, an
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enquiry was conducted by the Inspector and finding the complaint
to be incorrect, the matter was dropped. In fact, the complainant
had given in writing that he does not want to pursue the complaint.
The department, however, entertained the second complaint by the
same person despite dropping of the matter at the first instance
after causing an enquiry. The department could not have
entertained the second complaint by the same person once an
enquiry was caused and the matter was dropped. But, going
against all the canons of law, the respondents issued the second
show cause notice and without any evidence to substantiate the
allegations, passed the impugned order which was challenged in the
writ petition. It was dismissed after eight years without addressing
the merits of the case, but on the ground of availability of
alternative remedy.
9. The learned senior counsel for the appellant has made a
reference on certain paragraphs of the impugned order dated
31.12.2013 to prove its contents to be contrary to the reply to the
show cause notice and, therefore, the prayer is made to set aside
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the impugned order passed by the learned Single Judge so also the
order dated 31.12.2013.
10. The writ appeal has been contested by the learned
Advocate General along with the learned counsel appearing for the
HR and CE Department. It is submitted that no illegality has been
caused by the learned Single in dismissing the writ petition due to
availability of alternative remedy. In view of the above, this Court
may not cause interference, though in all cases where alternative
remedy is available, the writ may not be dismissed but can be
entertained, however, it can be only in exceptional cases as held by
the Apex Court in the case of Whirlpool Corporation vs.
Registrar of Trade Marks reported in (1998) 8 SCC 1. Finding it
not to be a case of exceptional nature to be governed by the
judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Whirlpool (supra), the
learned Single Judge passed the just order to dismiss the writ
petition.
11.The learned Advocate General further submits that the
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impugned order has been passed precisely based on the admission
made by the appellant in the reply to the show cause notice. They
had admitted the installation of idol and conduct of regular prayers
and poojas in the morning and evening which were sufficient to
bring the appellant in the purview of definition of 'Temple' under
Section 6(20) of the Act of 1959. The department had rightly
passed the order to appoint a Fit Person invoking Section 49 of the
Act of 1959. It is more so when serious allegation of
mismanagement of fund was made in the complaint. The appellant
was given a direction to furnish all the documents pertaining to the
books of accounts. Looking to the allegation of mismanagement of
fund or the fees/charges collected from the public, it became
necessary for the department to immediately appoint a Fit Person
and therefore, there remains no reason to cause interference in the
order. Though the learned Single Judge has not recorded its finding
on merit of the case but dismissed the writ petition on the ground of
availability of alternative remedy, if this Court finds dismissal of the
writ petition on the ground of availability of alternative remedy not
proper, then the prayer is to consider the arguments of the
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department on merit which are sufficient to justify the impugned
order challenged by the writ appellant by maintaining the writ
petition.
12. The learned Advocate General has further clarified that
they have not taken over the management of the educational
institution or any other activity of the appellant society other than
to take possession of the mandapam because it falls under the
definition of 'Temple' under Section 6(20) of the Act of 1959. It is
further submitted that the HR & CE department has no intention to
take over the management of the educational institution which
would be affecting the studies of the students, if any. The prayer
is, accordingly, to dismiss the writ appeal. It is, however,
submitted that if this Court finds that proper opportunity of hearing
was not given to the appellant, then a liberty may be given to the
department to initiate the action afresh as per the provisions of law
and after giving proper opportunity of hearing, to pass a fresh
order. To repose confidence in the action of the Government which
was otherwise without bias and not at the instance of the
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complainant, the learned Advocate General even offered nomination
of an independent person to cause enquiry into the matter.
However, in the first instance, the prayer was made to dismiss the
writ appeal having no merit.
13. We have considered the rival submissions of the parties
and perused the records.
14. The brief facts pertaining to the case have been narrated
by the learned counsel appearing for the parties while advancing
their arguments and accordingly, we would not be reiterating those
facts unless so required to deal with the arguments. A perusal of
the documents on record shows that the appellant was given a
show cause notice on 22.05.2013 and it reads as under:
“Notice is hereby sent to Sri Ram Samaj Functionaries that in
case there are objections, if any, as to why the institution Sri
Ram Samaj operating at Arya Gowder Road, West Mambalam,
Chennai 600 033 shall not be brought under the domain of this
department and make it conducting the administration as per
the HR & CE Act and its byelaws, within 7 days from the date of
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receipt of this notice. In case, no objections are received within
the specified above, considering that there are no objections
worth informing, further action will be continued.”
15. A perusal of the notice quoted above does not indicate any
allegations against the appellant society or any material so as to
bring it under the domain of the HR & CE department. The notice
aforesaid was given even without ascertaining the status of the
appellant, being a society registered under the Societies
Registration Act. The objects given in the memorandum for
registration of the society, which includes running of the educational
institution and even to organise functions on the day of Rama
Navami have not been taken into consideration. Pursuant to the
registration of the appellant society, they had constructed a
mandapam to organise various activities which includes conducting
lectures, apart from organising Veda Parayanam.
16. The second show cause notice was given on 17.06.2013
when a decision was taken to cause a spot inspection and therefore,
the President of the appellant society was asked to cooperate and
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thereupon, a letter was sent to the appellant on 01.07.2013 to seek
certain documents, which were nine in all, but it does not show or
call for the documents or material to indicate or prove the
installation of statute by observing the process given in Agamas and
prayers by the public. It was more pertaining to books of accounts
and details of movable and immovable properties in the name of the
appellant society construing it to be a temple without an order and
allegation of mismanagement.
17. A detailed reply to the show cause notice was given by the
appellant indicating the various activities undertaken by it. The
activities disclosed therein includes the conduct of Rama Navami
utsavam apart from other activities with a disclosure of the fact that
the appellant has kept the photographs of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita
and Hanuman and their photographs are distributed even on the
day of Rama Navami. For proper appreciation of the case, Section
6(20) of the Act of 1959 is quoted hereunder:
“6(20) 'temple' means a place by whatever
designation known, used as a place of public
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religious worship and dedicated to, or for the benefit
of, or used as of right by, the Hindu community or of
any section thereof, as a place of public religious
worship;
Explanation.- Where a temple situated outside the
State has properties situated within the State,
control shall be exercised over the temple in
accordance with the provisions of this Act, in so far
as the properties of the temple situated within the
State are concerned;”
18. The allegation of prayers before idol by the public was
disputed though while giving para-wise reply to para 5 of the notice,
the appellant had referred to the activity of Veda Parayanam
conducted to Shivalingam on every Pradhosham day. It is,
however, with the denial of Abhishekam or pooja referred in the the
notice and clarified that it is not conducted as per Agama Shastra as
the idol was not consecrated as per the Shastras. Denial of
existence of Hundies in the mandapam was also made calling upon
the respondents to put to strict proof thereupon to prove the
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allegation. The respondents had taken para 5 of the reply to the
show cause notice to be the admission of existence of panchaloga
idols and conduct of poojas in the morning and evening, and,
accordingly, passed the order impugned before the learned Single
Judge. The relevant paragraph of the order is extracted hereunder
to show the basis for passing the order to appoint a Fit Person
under Section 49 of the Act of 1959:-
“In the letter given by the President of Sri Ram Samaj,
as reply to the above, it has been stated religious and
cultural services are rendered in Sri Ram Samaj to the
General public, the daily collections received in Hundi
and place having been counted and taken into account
by 4 or 5 persons and receipts have been issued on the
same date and the said collections would go the total
account, that there are panchaloga Idols of Sri Rama-
Lakshmana, Seethai and Anumal, register in regard to
donations in both gold and silver is maintained,
valuation of these are done by GRT Thanga Maligai,
poojas and Dheepa Aradhanai having been performed in
morning and evening in the Ayodhya Mandapam of Sri
Ram Samaj, Prasadhams are distributed in the evening
and donations are received from the General Public.”
We do not find the reply to the show cause notice in the manner
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indicated above.
19. The admission taken from the side of the appellant was
that religious and cultural services are being rendered by the
appellant society to the general public and the daily collections
received in Hundi are counted and taken into account by
respondents 4 and 5. Reference of other activities have also been
made, but the learned counsel appearing for the respondent
department could not refer to such admission in reply to show
cause notice, which has been taken as the basis for passing the
impugned order.
20. It is even if we ignore that prior to the action by the
respondents at the instance of the complainant, earlier, same
complaint was made in the year 2004 which resulted in an enquiry
by an Inspector and finding the allegation to be incorrect, the
matter was dropped. It could not be clarified as to why the same
allegations were entertained by the department in the hands of the
same person when earlier it was dropped. In any case, even if the
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complaint was taken to be the basis, it was expected from the
department to provide proper opportunity of hearing to the
appellant which should be after serving proper notice containing the
allegations so as to be replied which was not done at the first
instance. The procedure given under Sections 49, 63 and 110 of
the Act of 1959 was not applied.
21. It is, however, a fact that the reply to the show cause
notice was taken to be the basis for passing the order. It is despite
a specific denial to all the allegations. In fact, the department could
have proceeded further in the matter by leading evidence to prove
the allegations, but without there being any material to prove the
allegations other than consideration of the show cause notice, the
impugned order was passed, which in the aforesaid facts and
circumstances cannot be said to be appropriate.
22. It is more so when Section 110 of the Act of 1959
provides for the procedure and powers at inquiries under Chapters
V and VI. But, the procedure given therein was not applied. The
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appellant could not have been brought under the definition of
'Temple' given under Section 6(20) of the Act of 1959 only in
reference to the allegation, unless it is further proved. This
allegation was otherwise denied and in the circumstances, the
respondent department could have referred to the spot inspection
conducted by them. But the document on record shows issuance of
a notice to the appellant to cooperate for the spot inspection.
Whether it was subsequently conducted or not is not coming out on
record and if it was conducted, what prevented the department to
refer to the spot inspection report to substantiate their case could
not be clarified.
23. In the instant case, the impugned order has been passed
not based on any material collected by the respondents, but in
reference to the reply to the show cause notice by the appellant. It
is despite the procedure given under Sections 63 and 110 of the Act
of 1959. The aforesaid cannot be ignored more so when, on earlier
occasion, on a similar complaint given by the same person, an
Inspector was appointed to cause enquiry into the matter and after
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his enquiry and a report thereupon, the matter was dropped. Why
the same procedure was not applied in the case could not be
clarified.
24. Sections 63 and 110 of the Act of 1959 are reproduced
hereunder:
“63.Joint Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner to
decide certain disputes and matters.- Subject to the
rights of suit or appeal hereinafter provided, the Joint
Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner, as the case
may be, shall have power to inquire into and decide the
following disputes and matters:-
(a) whether an institution is a religious institution;
(b) whether a trustee holds or held office as a hereditary
trustee;
(c) whether any property or money is a religious
endowment;
(d) whether any property or money is a specific
endowment;
(e) whether any person is entitled, by custom or
otherwise, to any honour, emolument or perquisite in any
religious institution and what the established usage of a
religious institution is in regard to any other matter;
(f) whether any institution or endowment is wholly or
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partly of a religious or secular character ; and whether
any property or money has been given wholly or partly
for religious or secular uses ; and
(g) where any property or money has been given for the
support of an institution which is partly of a religious and
partly of a secular character, or the performance of any
service or charity connected with such an institution or
the performance of a charity which is partly of a religious
and partly of a secular character or where any property
or money given is appropriated partly to religious and
partly to secular uses, as to what portion of such property
or money shall be allocated to religious uses.”
“110. Procedure and powers at inquiries under Chapters
V and VI.
(1) Where a Commissioner or a Joint Commissioner or a
Deputy Commissioner makes an inquiry or hears an
appeal under at inquiries Chapter V or Chapter VI, the
inquiry shall be made and the appeal shall be heard, as
nearly as may be, in accordance with the procedure
applicable under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908
(Central Act V of 1908) to the trial of suits or the hearing
of appeals, as the case may be.
(2) The provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872
(Central Act I of 1872), and the Indian Oaths Act, 1873
(Central Act X of 1873), shall apply to such inquiries and
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appeals.
(3) The Commissioner or a Joint Commissioner or a
Deputy Commissioner holding such an inquiry or hearing
such an appeal shall be deemed to be a person acting
judicially within the meaning of the Judicial Officers
Protection Act, 1850, (Central Act XVIII of 1850).”
The procedure given therein has not been followed by the
respondents.
25. The learned Advocate General was candid in making a
statement that while appointing a Fit Person, care has been taken
not to disturb the educational activities of the society. Thus, it
becomes clear that society was created not only to run the
mandapam, but for other activities and thereby it was incumbent on
the respondents to refer to the object of the society and after
analysing other activities, to take a proper decision as to whether
the society or part of it will fall in the definition of 'Temple' so as to
give effect to the impugned order. The care aforesaid has not been
taken in the matter and what we find is that the impugned order
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has been passed without recording a finding that the appellant
society falls in the definition of the 'Temple' given under Section
6(20) of the Act of 1959, but only referring that it satisfies with the
ingredients of the definition of 'Temple' without recording a definite
finding on that. In absence of declaring the appellant society to be
falling in the definition of 'Temple', the further exercise to appoint a
Fit Person could not have been undertaken because, the provision
of the Act of 1959 can be applied only when the appellant falls in
the definition of 'Temple' or comes under the purview of the Act of
1959.
26. The question as to whether an institution is a religious
institution or not, the Act of 1959 is a self contained Code. Chapter-V,
specifically deals with inquiries. Under Section 63, the Joint
Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner as the case may be, have the
powers to enquire into and decide whether the institution is a religious
institution or not. Any person aggrieved by the decision is entitled to
file an appeal to the Commissioner under Section 69 of the Act and
any person aggrieved by the order of the Commissioner is entitled to
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file a suit under Section 70 of the Act. Section 110 of the Act provides
that where a Commissioner or a Joint Commissioner or a Deputy
Commissioner makes an enquiry or hears an appeal under Chapter – V
or Chapter – VI, enquiry shall be made and the appeal shall be heard,
as nearly as may be, in accordance with the procedure applicable
under Code of Civil Procedure to the Trial of suits or hearing of the
appeal as the case may be. Provisions of the Indian Evidence Act and
Indian Oaths Act shall apply to such enquiries and appeal. Further, the
Commissioner or Joint Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner holding
such enquiry or hearing such appeal shall be deemed to be a person
acting judicially within the meaning of the Judicial Officers Protection
Act, 1850.
27. The power to appoint a fit person vests in the Assistant
Commissioner, as per Section 49, which can be exercised on two
contingencies. First, the institution must be a religious institution and
second, upon satisfaction of any mal-administration of the institution
by the existing trustees. It may be seen in the instant case that while
appointing a fit person, the Assistant Commissioner himself has
attempted to proclaim and decided that the institution is a religious
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institution. When the fourth respondent filed a complaint that the
institution is a religious institution, the appellant having denied the
same, it was necessary that the matter should have been taken up
first by the Joint Commissioner/Deputy Commissioner under Section
63 for determining whether the institution is a religious institution or
not. The same has to be done by following due procedure, that is,
recording evidence and thereafter, pronouncing a decision under
Section 63 of the Act. If any party is aggrieved, they can file an
appeal and thereafter, a suit, but without following the said procedure,
straight away, the second respondent has assumed jurisdiction and
appointed a fit person in an illegal manner. As a matter of fact, the
learned Single Judge of this Court in the case of
R.Shanmugasundram Vs. Commissioner of HR & CE (1991 2
MLJ 582), had specifically held that power under Section 49 to
appoint a fit person cannot be exercised before determination of the
issue under Section 63 of the Act of 1959. The aforesaid judgment is
applicable to this case.
28. The second procedural violation is that before passing the
order under Section 49 of the Act of 1959 appointing a fit person,
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except to record that a show cause notice was sent, reference of the
allegation of mismanagement has not been given. Thus, there was
neither any specific allegation of mal-administration nor any recording
of subjective satisfaction. Further, such allegations should be
specifically made in the show cause notice and hearing on such
allegations should have been made before appointing of a fit person.
29. Therefore, we find reason to cause interference in the
order passed by the learned Single Judge, who ought not to have
dismissed the writ petition without addressing the issues on merit,
when challenge to the order was alleging violation of the principles
of natural justice and non-observance of procedure in passing the
order. Ignoring the aforesaid, the writ petition was dismissed on
the ground of availability of alternative remedy and involvement of
question of facts, whereas challenge was on the ground of non-
compliance of procedure given under Section 63 of the Act of 1959
and Chapters V and VI thereof. It is even bit by the judgment of
the Supreme Court in the case of Durga Enterprises (P) Ltd. vs.
Principal Secretary, Govt. of U.P., reported at (2004) 13 SCC
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665. There also, the writ petition was dismissed on the ground of
availability of alternative remedy after keeping the matter pending
for a long period of 13 years. It was held that the High Court
having entertained the writ petition and the pleadings by the parties
were complete, ought to have decided the case on merit instead of
relegating the parties to take the alternative remedy. We are not
further entering into the issue that only on account of availability of
alternative remedy, the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226
of the Constitution of India is not barred rather in view of the
judgment of the Apex Court in the case of Whirlpool Corporation
(supra), the writ petition can be entertained despite the availability
of alternative remedy. It is more so when procedure given under
the Act of 1959 was not applied.
30. Accordingly, for all the reasons given above, we cause
interference in the impugned order dated 17.03.2022 of the learned
Single Judge so also the order dated 31.12.2013 passed by the
respondent department. It is, however, with liberty to the
department to proceed in the matter afresh in accordance with the
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provisions of law. The appellant would be at liberty to prove their
case by bringing the material and evidence, if fresh action is taken,
and after completion of the aforesaid procedure, which may be after
taking into consideration the power given to the department under
Section 110 of the Act of 1959, to pass a speaking order.
31. With the aforesaid, the writ appeal is allowed, with a
direction to the department to immediately hand over the
possession of the mandapam and even all the records to the
appellant. The appellant is directed to maintain the accounts, which
should be duly audited.
No costs. Consequently, all the miscellaneous petitions are
closed.
(M.N.B., CJ.) (D.B.C., J.)
27.04.2022
Index : Yes
Speaking Order
sra
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M.N.Bhandari, CJ.
and
D.Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.
(sra)
To:
1. The Commissioner,
Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
Department, 34, Nungambakkam High Road,
Chennai 600 034.
2. The Assistant Commissioner,
34, Nungambakkam High Road,
Chennai 600 034.
W.A.No.1057 of 2022
27.04.2022
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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis
