Kerala High Court
Sukshmananda Swami vs Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust
Author: A. V. Ramakrishna Pillai
Bench: Thottathil B.Radhakrishnan, A.V.Ramakrishna Pillai
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE THOTTATHIL B.RADHAKRISHNAN
&
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.V.RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI
WEDNESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2012/16TH KARTHIKA 1934
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
--------------------------
I.A. NOS.1077/2011, 1078/2011, 1247/2011, 1474/2011 AND 1475/2011 IN
OS.127/1954 OF SUB COURT, ATTINGAL.
............
PETITIONER(S):
-------------
1. SUKSHMANANDA SWAMI, SANYASIN,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
2. MAHEWSWRANANDA SWAMI,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
3. SWAMI SUBHAGANANDA, SANYASIN,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
4. SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
5. SWAMI VIDYANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
BY ADVS.SRI.M.BALAGOVINDAN
SRI.T.K.ANANDA PADMANABHAN
RESPONDENT(S):
--------------------------
1. SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY,
S.N.D.S. TRUST, SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
2. SWAMY CHAITHANYANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
3. SWAMY KAIVALYANANDA SARASWATHY,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
4. SWAMI DHARMACHAITHANYA,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMASANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
5. SWAMY SAMVITHANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
6. SWAMY ABHAYANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
7. SWAMY VENKITESWAR,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
8. SWAMY SREENARAYANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
9. SWAMY SADANANDAGIRI,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
10. SWAMY VIDYANANDA SARASWATHY,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-695 141.
11. K. VISWANATHAN NAIR,
(RETIRED DISTRICT JUDGE),
RETURNING OFFICER, OFFICE ROOM NO.8,
SIVAGIRI MATOM GUEST HOUSE, VARKALA-695 141.
* ADDL. R12 TO R22 IMPLEADED
12. KRISHNANANDA SANYASIN,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA, TRIVANDRUM.
13. SWAMI SUGUNANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-673 001.
14. SWAMI ANASWARANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA-673 001.
15. SWAMI SUKRUTHANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
16. SWAMI SARVESWARANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
17. SWAMI SAHAJANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
18. SWAMI LOKANADANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
19. SWAMI PARAANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
20. SWAMI VISWANADANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
21. SWAMI ANAHANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
22. SWAMI MANGALASWAROOPANANDA,
MEMBER, SREE NARAYANA DHARMA SANGHAM TRUST,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
* ADDL.RESPONDENTS NO.12 TO 22 ARE IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER
DATED 20/09/2011 IN I.A. NOS.13396/2011, 13501/2011, 13502/2011,
13634/2011, 13633/2011, 13546/2011, 13545/2011, 13556/2011, 13555/2011,
13632/2011 AND 13635/2011 IN OP(C) NO.2598/2011.
** ADDL. R23 TO R59 IMPLEADED
23. SWAMI PRAKASANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
24. SWAMI SUDANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
25. SWAMI AMRUTHANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
26. SWAMI VISUDHANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA DHARMA MUTT,
MARUTHWAMALA, POTTAYADI P.O.,
KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT.
27. SWAMI LOKESANANDA,
SREE VILAS, EX. SERVICEMEN COLONY,
PACHA, PALODE P.O.
28. SWAMI MUNEENDRANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
29. SWAMI TRIRATNATHEERTHAR,
SREE NARAYANA GURUKULAM,
CHEMBAZHANDHI P.O.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
30. SWAMI AVYAYANANDA,
GURU PRABHAVASRAMAM,
PERUNDHURUTHY P.O.,
PAZHANJI (VIA.), THRISSUR.
31. SWAMI AROOPANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA GURUKULAM,
CHEMBAZHANDHI P.O.
32. SWAMI SACHIDANANDA,
GAYATHRI AASRAMAM,
CHALAKUDY P.O., THRISSUR.
33. SWAMI ASPARSANANDA,
VISWAGAGI MUTT, CHARAMANGALAM,
MUHAMMA P.O., CHERTHALA.
34. SWAMI VEDANTHANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
35. SWAMI MAHESWARANANDA SARASWATHY,
SREE NARAYANA GURUDEVASRAMAM,
KARADIGOD, KOORG, KARNATAKA.
36. SWAMI ANAPEKSHANANDA,
SIVAGIRI VIDYANIKETHAN, VALMIKI HILL,
THOTTUMUGHAM, ALUVA (KALEEKULANGARA
TEMPLE AND MUTT, NANDHIATT KUNNAM,
VADAKUM PARAVOOR).
37. SWAMI VIGHYATHANANDA,
GURUKRIPA SEVASRAMAM, BALLYOTT,
HOSMAR KARKALA TALUK, UDUPPI, KARNATAKA.
38. SWAMI PREETHATMANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
39. SWAMI VISRUTHATMANANDA,
GURUCHAITHANYA MUTT, PUTHUSSERIMALA,
PATHANAMTHITTA.
40. SWAMI AMEYANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
41. SWAMI SATHYANANDA SARASWATHY,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
42. SWAMI RITHAMBHARANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
43. SWAMI SADROOPANANDA,
SREE NARAYANA SEVASRAMAM,
BIG KANCHEEPURAM, TAMIL NADU.
44. SWAMI SACHIDANANDA,
MANNUR SREE RAMANANDASRAMAM,
MANNUR, PALAKKAD.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
45. SWAMI SUPRABHANANDA,
C/O. MURALEEDHARAN, PONNARASSERY HOUSE,
MATTAM P.O., THRISSUR.
46. SWAMI PADMANANDA,
SREENARAYANA GURU MUTT,
212 BIGCAR STREET, THIRUPRAMKUNDRAM,
MADHURA.
47. SWAMI DHARMANANDA,
SREE NARASIMHASRAMAM,
EROOR SOUTH, ERNAKULAM.
48. SWAMI SANDRANANDAPURI,
ARUVIPURAM TEMPLE AND MUTT,
ARUVIPURAM, NEYYATTINKARA.
49. SWAMI NIVEDANANANDA,
KONATTUPARAMBIL, KALLARA SOUTH,
KOTTAYAM.
50. SWAMI NITHYASWAROOPANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
51. SWAMI VISALANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
52. SWAMI BRAHMASWAROOPANANDA,
GURUNARAYANASRAMAM, AMARIPADAM,
VALLIVATTOM, THRISSUR.
53. SWAMI SATHYANANDA THEERTHA,
RAMASWAMY MUTT, NTV NAGAR,
KADAPPAKADA, KOLLAM.
54. SWAMI SARADANANDA,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
55. SWAMI ATMAPRASAD,
SREE SANKARANANDASRAMAM,
SANKARANANDASRAMAM ROAD,
ERNAKULAM NORTH, KOCHI.
56. SWAMI SIVASWAROOPANANDA,
ADWAITASRAMAM, PALACE ROAD,
ALUVA.
57. SWAMI YOGANANDA THEERTHA,
SREENARAYANA SEVASRAMAM,
BIG KANCHEEPURAM, TAMIL NADU.
58. SWAMI GURUPRASAD,
SIVAGIRI MUTT, VARKALA.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
59. SWAMI BODHITHEERTHA,
SUBRAMANYA SWAMI TEMPLE AND MUTT,
KUNNUMPARA, VAZHAMUTTAM,
PACHALLOOR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
** ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS NO.23 TO 59 ARE SUO MOTU IMPLEADED
AS PER ORDER DATED 20/09/2011 IN OP(C) NO.2598/2011.
R1 BY SRI.M.C.SEN, SENIOR ADVOCATE.
R1, R2, R3, R5 TO R8, 17,
}BY
23, 37, 43, 49, 58 ADV. SRI.SAJAN VARGHESE
R11 BY ADV. SRI.LIJU. M.P.
R12 BY ADVS. SRI.A.N.RAJAN BABU,
SRI.P.GOPALAKRISHNAN (MVA).
R13 & R14 BY ADV. SRI.SUBHASH CYRIAC
R21 & R22 BY ADVS. SRI.L.MOHANAN,
SRI.J.HARIKUMAR.
ADDL. R24, 26, 29, 33, 35, 40,
44,48, 50, 51, 54, 59 }ADV. SRI.LEGY ABRAHAM
ADDL.R25 & 53 BY ADV. SRI.PIRAPPANCODE V.S.SUDHIR.
ADDL.R28, 30, 52, 56, 39, 31, 45 BY ADV. SRI.V.PHILIP MATHEW.
ADDL.R32 BY ADVS. SRI.V.JAYAPRADEEP,
SMT.V.V.RISANI.
ADDL.R35, R36, R39 BY ADVS. SRI.M.RAMASWAMY PILLAI,
SRI.P.M.JOSEPH.
ADDL. R46 BY ADV. SMT.M.BINDUDAS.
ADDL. R47 BY ADV. SRI.C.D.DILEEP.
BY ADVS. SRI.VAKKOM N.VIJAYAN
SMT.V.RENJU
SRI.P.ANIYAN
SMT.M.A.RAMITHA
SRI.J.S.AJITHKUMAR.
THIS OP (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 07-11-2012,
THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
rs.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
APPENDIX
PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS:-
EXT.P1 COPY OF THE BYE-LAW OF SNDS TRUST.
EXT.P2 COPY OF THE NEWS REPORT IN NEW INDIAN EXPRESS,
TRIVANDRUM EDITION DATED 13/04/2008.
EXT.P3 COPY OF THE REPLY GIVEN BY THE CONVENER OF THE
MONITORING COMMITTEE DATED 22/04/2008.
EXT.P4 COPY OF THE COMPLAINT GIVEN TO THE FIRST RESPONDENT.
EXT.P5 COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE HONOURABLE SUPREME COURT
DATED 05/08/2008 IN CIVIL APPEAL NO.486/2003.
EXT.P6 COPY OF THE ORDER IN I.A. NO.4069/2008 IN A.S.14/1956
DATED 16/02/2011.
EXT.P7 COPY OF THE I.A.1077 OF 2011 FILED BEFORE THE HONOURABLE
SUBORDINATE JUDGES COURT, ATTINGAL ON 16/06/2011.
EXT.P8 COPY OF THE COUNTER AFFIDAVIT DATED 15/07/2011 FILED
BY 1ST RESPONDENT.
EXT.P9 COPY OF THE I.A.1078 OF 2011 DATED 16/06/2011 FILED BEFORE
THE HONOURABLE SUBORDINATE JUDGES COURT, ATTINGAL.
EXT.P10 COPY OF THE COUNTER AFFIDAVIT DATED 15/07/2011
FILED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
EXT.P11 COPY OF THE NOTICE NO.SM/74/11-12 DATED 26/06/2011 ISSUED
BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
EXT.P12 COPY OF THE I.A. NO.1247 OF 2011 DATED 03/07/2011 FILED
BEFORE THE HONOURABLE SUBORDINATE JUDGES COURT,
ATTINGAL.
EXT.P13 COPY OF THE OBJECTIONS DATED 15/07/2011 FILED BY
THE FIRST RESPONDENT.
EXT.P14 COPY OF THE I.A. NO.1474/2011 DATED 27/07/2011.
EXT.P15 COPY OF THE DECISION AND ELECTION NOTIFICATION
DATED 21/07/2011 ISSUED BY 11TH RESPONDENT.
EXT.P16 COPY OF THE I.A. NO.1475/2011 DATED 28/07/2011 FILED
BEFORE THE HONOURABLE SUB COURT, ATTINGAL.
EXT.P17 COPY OF THE OBJECTIONS FILED BY 1ST RESPONDENT TO
I.A. NO.1475/2011.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
EXT.P18 COPY OF THE ORDER IN CIVIL APPEAL NO.486/2003
DATED 25/07/2011 OF THE HONOURABLE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA.
EXT.P19 SERIES: COPIES OF THE APPLICATION FORMS FOR MEMBERSHIP
SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS 2 TO 10 TO THE SNDS TRUST.
EXT.P20 COPY OF THE RELEVANT PAGES OF SIVAGIRI MAGAZINE
DATED DECEMBER 2008.
EXT.P21 COPY OF THE ORDER IN I.A. NO.11-14 IN CIVIL APPEAL NO.486/2008
DATED 29/02/2008.
EXT.P22 COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 20/09/2011 REGARDING THE
TRUST BOARD MEETING DATED 05/10/2011.
EXT.P23 COPY OF THE NOTICE DATED 20/09/2011 TO CONVENE THE
GENERAL BODY MEETING OF S.N.D.S. TRUST DATED 06/10/2011.
RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS:-
EXT.R1A COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF CMP NO.4444/1995
IN CRP NO.2727/1994 ON THE FILE OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.
EXT.R1B COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 22/12/1995 PASSED IN
CMP NO.4444/1995 IN CRP NO.2727/1994 ON THE FILE OF
THIS HON'BLE COURT.
EXT.R1C COPY OF THE FINAL ORDER PASSED IN CMP NO.4444/1995 IN
CRP NO.2727/1994 ON THE FILE OF THIS HON'BLE COURT.
EXT.R1D COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
BOARD HELD ON 26/11/2007.
EXT.R1E COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE GENERAL BODY HELD
ON 25/03/2008.
EXT.R1F COPY OF THE PUBLICATION MADE IN MANGALAM DAILY
ON 27/03/2008.
EXT.R1G COPY OF THE PUBLICATION IN MADHYAMAM DAILY
DATED 28/03/2008.
EXT.R1H COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
TRUST BOARD HELD ON 11/07/2011.
EXT.R1I COPY OF THE FINAL VOTERS' LIST ISSUED IN FURTHERANCE
TO EXT.P15, ELECTION NOTIFICATION.
EXT.R1J COPY OF THE BALLOT PAPER, IN WHICH THE VOTES WERE CAST
IN TERMS OF THE ELECTION HELD AS PER EXT.P15,
ELECTION NOTIFICATION.
OP(C).No. 2598 of 2011 (O)
EXT.R1K COPY OF THE DETAILS OF MEMBERS OF THE RESPONDENT NO.1
SANGHAM, WHO WERE ORDAINED AS ANYASINS, NOT FROM
SIVAGIRI MUTT.
EXT.R1L COPY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TRUST
WHO HAD NOT STUDIED IN MATHA MAHAPATASALA, ATTACHED
TO SIVAGIRI MUTT.
EXT.R1M COPY OF THE DETAILS OF THE CANDIDATES WHO WOULD
FIGURE IN EXT.R1(J) AND HAD NOT ATTENDED/STUDIED
IN THE MATHA MAHAPATASALA ATTACHED TO SIVAGIR MUTT.
EXT.R1N COPY OF THE CANDIDATES WHO WOULD FIGURE IN EXT.R1(J)
AND NOT GOT OBTAINED FROM SIVAGIRI MUTT.
EXT.R11A COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER DATED 19/08/2011 OF
SWAMY SUBHAGANANDA AND SWAMY SANDRANANDAPURI
AS ELECTION BOOTH AGENTS.
EXT.R11B COPY OF THE MAHAZAR DATED 19/08/2011 PREPARED ON
SEALING THE BOXES IN WHICH VOTES WERE COLLECTED.
EXT.R11C COPY OF THE COMMUNICATION DATED 19/08/2011 ISSUED
BY THE FEDERAL BANK, BRANCH AT VARKALA SHOWING
RECEIPT OF TWO SEALED BOXES CONTAINING BALLOT PAPERS.
EXT.R11D COPY OF THE BALLET PAPER.
//TRUE COPY//
P.A. TO JUDGE
rs.
THOTTATHIL B. RADHAKRISHNAN &
A. V. RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI, JJ.
---------------------------------------------
O.P(C) No.2598 of 2011.
---------------------------------------------
Dated this the 7th day of November, 2012
JUDGMENT
Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan, J.
Read the earlier three orders in this case.
2. Following the aforesaid, it is a matter of utmost satisfaction that the litigation which had been pending in the Sub Court, Attingal from O.S.No.127 of 1954 stands settled through the Mediation Settlement Agreement filed in O.P(C) No.2598 of 2011 in this Court (the case in hand).
3. We have perused the report and the Settlement Agreement. We record the said Settlement Agreement and order that this original petition and I.A Nos.1077/2011, 1078/2011, 1247/2011, 1474/2011, 1475/2011 of the Sub Court, Attingal will stand ordered in terms of this Settlement Agreement. The Mediation Settlement Agreement shall stand appended to this order.
4. A copy of this judgment along with the Settlement Agreement will be forwarded under the seal of this Court to the Sub Court, Attingal, to be incorporated in the records of O.S.No.127 of 1954. O.P(C) 2598/2011. -:2:-
5. We further order that the election proceedings, which stand suspended by reason of the interlocutory orders in this original petition will now proceed in terms of the contents of the Memorandum of Settlement Agreement. The Registry will return the materials in connection with the elections, which are retained in safe custody, to the Returning Officer. At the request of the parties we appoint the three Mediators, viz. C.E.Unnikrishnan, S.K.Balachandran and Saju S. Poonthodath also to be present at the time of counting as observers. They will be paid a consolidated amount of `10,000/- each as honorarium for such expenses, over and above the expenses that may incur. The candidates or their representatives will, obviously, be entitled to present during counting of votes, on the basis of the decision of the Returning Officer. Once counting is completed, the Returning Officer will follow due process.
6. We also record the submission on behalf of the Trust that they intend to make some payment towards Mediation Centre of which, a portion may be given to the Mediators who had mediated in this case in recognition of the efforts taken. It is submitted that an amount of `60,000/- would be paid to the Kerala State Mediation and Conciliation Centre (KSMCC) by the Trust. Once payment to that effect is made, that will be dealt with by the Director, KSMCC by taking appropriate orders from the Board of Governors, KSMCC.
O.P(C) 2598/2011. -:3:-
7. Before parting, we record our appreciation for the exceptional efforts taken by the learned Mediators to whom this case was allotted, viz. C.E.Unnikrishnan, S.K.Balachandran and Saju S. Poonthodath, the accredited Mediators attached to the Kerala High Court Mediation Centre. We also place on record our appreciation for the abundant support given by the learned counsel appearing for the parties and also the other advocates who assisted the parties to come to a settlement, viz. Advocates Vakkom N. Vijayan, M.Balagovindan, T.K.Ananda Padmanabhan, Sajan Vargheese.K, A.N.Rajan Babu, V.Philip Mathew, Legy Abraham, Liju M.P., Subhash Cyriac, Sudheer V.S., J.Harikumar, C.D.Dileep, J.S.Ajith Kumar, M.Ramaswamy Pillai, Jayapradeep V, R. Rajasekharan Pillai and L. Mohanan.
8. On completion of the election proceedings, the Sub Court, Attingal can consider closing of O.S.No.127 of 1954 on the basis of the aforesaid Settlement Agreement or pass such further orders as may be found necessary on the basis of the request of parties.
Original petition ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
THOTTATHIL B. RADHAKRISHNAN JUDGE Sd/-
A. V. RAMAKRISHNA PILLAI JUDGE krj.7/11