Madras High Court
R.Shanmugam vs The Hindu Religious And Endowment ... on 5 October, 2021
Author: M.Sundar
Bench: M.Sundar
W.P.No.21310 of 2021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 05.10.2021
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.SUNDAR
W.P.No. 21310 of 2021
&
W.M.P.Nos.22550, 22548 & 22549 of 2021
1. R.Shanmugam
2. Y.Rubalingam Chettiar
3. C.V.Sundarrajan Chettiar ... Petitioners
Vs
1. The Hindu Religious and Endowment Department
Rep. By its Commissioner
Mahatma Gandhi Road
Nungambakkam
Chennai – 600 034
2. The Assistant Commissioner
The Hindu Religious and Endowment Department
Chengalpet
3. The Executive Officer
Arulmigu Kandasamy Temple
Thiruporur ... Respondents
Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to
issue a Writ of Certiorari calling for the records relating to proceedings
of the 2nd respondent herein bearing Na.Ka.No.1658/2001/E2 dated
21.09.2021 and quash the same.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/
1/15
W.P.No.21310 of 2021
For Petitioner : Mr.AR.L.Sundaresan
Senior Counsel
for Ms.AL.Ganthimathi
ORDER
Captioned writ petition is in the Admission Board and it has been filed assailing 'an order dated 21.09.2021 bearing reference Na.Ka.No.1658/2001/E2 made by the second respondent' (hereinafter 'impugned order' for the sake of convenience and clarity) inter alia temporarily suspending the three writ petitioners from trusteeship of 'Vaniga Vyasar Dharma Chatram Trust (alias) Vaaniya Chettiar at No.13, South Mada Street, Thiruporur, Chengalpet District' (hereinafter 'said entity' for the sake of convenience and clarity), pending enquiry into charges and appointing a Fit person qua said entity.
2. Learned senior counsel made elaborate submissions assailing the impugned order. I am not inclined to interfere qua impugned order, I am unable to persuade myself to entertain the challenge to the impugned order and the reasons are as follows:
a) The impugned order says it has been made under Section 53(2) of 'the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1959 (Act 22 of 1959)', which https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 2/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 shall hereinafter be referred to as 'TN HR & CE Act' for the sake of convenience and clarity and Section 49(1) of TN HR & CE Act, but in fact it is an order under Section 53(4) of TN HR & CE Act. Law is well settled that quoting a wrong provision of law will not invalidate an order as long as the Authority has powers to make the order and the Authority does not get denuded of the powers by merely quoting a wrong provision of law;
b) The submission that said entity is a private Trust i.e., a trust outside the sweep of TN HR & CE Act, is unacceptable as the averments of the writ petitioners in the writ affidavit itself run contrary to this, inter alia paragraph 3 of the writ petition wherein it has been averred that the intention of Founder of the Trust was to appoint Trustees qua the property at Thiruporur for the purpose of maintaining the same making available for worshippers to take rest and also for the purpose of conducting a festival called 'Theppal Utsav' being 10th day of Brhamotshavam in the Tamil month of Masi in the temple of Arulmighu Lord Murugan Temple at Thiruporur. Relevant https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 3/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 averment in paragraph 3 of the writ affidavit reads as follows:
'....The intention of the Founder of the Trust was to appoint Trustees, vest the property at Thiruporur in the said Trustees for the purpose of maintaining the same and make it available for the worshipers to take rest and also for the purpose of conducting festival called Theppal Utsav as the 10th day Pramodshavam in the Tamil month of Masi in the temple of Thiruporur A/m. Lord Murugan at Thiruporur.'
c) The argument that, the question as to whether said entity is a Religious Institution or Specific Endowment does not weigh with me with regard to the challenge to the impugned order. The reason is, Chapter V of TN HR & CE Act provides for a mechanism by itself and the relevant provisions in the case on hand are Section 63(d), 63(c) and 63(a). To be noted, Specific Endowment is defined under Section 6(19) of TN HR & CE Act and a perusal of Section 6(19) will reveal that only one category of properties are taken outside the sweep of Section 6(19) and those are inam properties as explained in explanation to Section 6(17). Section 6(19) and Explanation 1 to Section 6(17) read as follows:
'Section 6(19): “specific endowment” means any property or money endowed for the performance of any https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 4/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 specific service or charity in a math or temple or for the performance of any other religious charity, but does not include an inam of the nature described in Explanation (1) to clause (17)' '6 (17) ......
Explanation.—(1) Any inam granted to an archaka, service holder or other employee of a religious institution for the performance of any service or charity in or connected with a religious institution shall not be deemed to be a personal gift to the archaka, service holder or employee but shall be deemed to be a religious endowment.'
(d) In the case on hand, the writ petitioners have been given adequate opportunity. The writ petitioners were visited with a show-cause notice being show-cause notice dated 22.03.2021 and the writ petitioners responded to the same. The writ petitioners have also given what is known as 'thf;FK:yk;';
(e) The argument that there are two original petitions, namely O.P.No.1 of 2016 on the file of District Court, Chengalpet and O.P.No.339 of 2004 on the Original Side of this Court and therefore, the Assistant Commissioner cannot now go into the question does not weigh with me as Section 108 of TN HR & CE Act is a overriding and overarching legal https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 5/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 phenomenon as it is a special Statute. Law is well settled that there is a overarching legal phenomenon qua TN HR & CE Act. Be that as it may, 'Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department' ('TN HR & CE Dept.' for the sake of convenience, clarity and brevity) was not a party to these two OPs and these OPs pertain to different properties and not the property which is now subject matter of the impugned order.
(f) An argument was made to the effect that post impugned order, a board has been put up in the property and the TN HR & CE Dept. officials have force entered the same. If there is any event post impugned order and if that event is contrary to law, it is well open to the writ petitioners to seek remedy in law and that cannot become a ground to assail an impugned order, which has otherwise been made in accordance with due exercise of statutory powers. A careful perusal of the proceeding dated 18.08.2021 makes it clear that there is a document, namely Document No.340 of 1956 dated 23,04.1956 and that appears to be the document by which the fl;lis i.e., Endowment, appears to have come into existence. This https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 6/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 document has not been placed before me. Prima facie, considering the averments in the writ affidavit and the other documents other than this 1956 document, namely sale deed dated 19.12.1931, settlement deed dated 14.04.1932 and the averments made therein, leaves this Court with the view that said entity is clearly a specific endowment within the meaning of Section 6(19) of TNHR & CE Act. The reason is, a recital in 19.12.1931 sale deed runs as follows 'nkw;go jpUg;nghU:h; rhd;nwhh;
tPjpapypUf;Fk; tzpf itrpa rj;jpuj;ij hpg;ngh; bra;at[k; thp fl;lt[k; jpde;njhWk; ic& rj;jpuj;Jf;F jPgk; itf;ft[k.; ic& jpUg;nghU:h; nfhg[uj;jpy; vGe;jUypapUf;Fk; Kuff;flt[Sf ; F elf;Fk; cw;rt fhy';fspy; jPghuhjid bfhLf;ft[k; ahbjhUtUk;goa[k; ,y;yhj goahy; eP' ; f ; s; brd;wtiuapy; xU thp th';fp itj;J mjpy; tUk; Fof;Typ tUk;goia bfhz;L ic& jh;kj;ij elj;jntz;Lbkd;W vz;z';bfhz;L vd;dplk; mtru epkpj;jkha; ehd; tpw;Fk;go ahapUe;j ,jdoapy; fz;l vd;dplkpUf;Fk; kidia ic& jh;kj;Jf;fhf tpw;Fk;go eP'f ; s;
vd;id nfl;Lf;bfhz;lgo ehDk; rk;kjpj;J
U:gha; 1500-? vGj;jhy; U:gha; Mapuj;jp
Ie;E}Wf;Fk; Rj;jtpf;fpiuak; bra;J ic&
fpiua bjhifia bgw;Wf;bfhz;L ic&
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 7/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 fl;Lf;nfhg;g[ tpjp kidiaa[k; ,d;W c';fs;
RthjPdk; bra;J tpl;lgoaha; ,J Kjy; ic&
fl;Lf;nfhg;g[ thjp kidia eP'f
; s;
ifg;gw;wpf;bfhz;L mjw;Fz;lhd Kdprpgy; thp
Fg;l;Lgz;Lthp KjyhdJfshd. eP;'f
; ns
brYj;jpf;bfhz;L g[j;jpu. bgsj;jpu
ghhpak;ghpakha;. R{hpa re;jpu Kd;dpiya[k; nkw;go jUk';fSf;nf chpj;jha; mDgtpj;J bfhs;sf; flika[ss ; jhft[k;. ,jpy; ahbjhU fyDkpy;iy.
FyDg;Fz;lhdhy; mf;fyiz ehnd Kd;dpd;W
jPh;jJ
; f;bfhLf;ff; flntdhft[k;. ic&
tpy;y';fr; nrh;ej
; K:yj!;jhnt$%fs; aht[k;
,j;Jld; c';fSf;F Mjhukhff; bfhLj;J
jPuf
; f
; pnwd;/ ,e;jg;gof;F ehd; rk;kjpj;J
vGjpf;bfhLj;j Tl;Lnfhg;g[ tPLkid
Rj;jtpf;fpiuag;gj;jpuk;/'
A recital in the 14.04.1932 Settlement Deed runs as
follows:
'...... ntz;Lbkd;W vz;z';bfhz;L 1931
tUc&k; o!k;gh; khjk; 19?k; njjp 1500-?
vGj;jhy; U:gha; Mapuj;jp Ie;E}Wf;Fk; fpiuak;
th';fp ek; Rthjpdj;jpYk;
mDnghfj;jpypUf;Fk; ,jdoapy; bc&l;a[{ypy;
fz;l tPL kidia nkw;go tzpf itrpa
Fy jh;krj;jpuj;jpw;F ,d;iwa jpdk; ,e;j
brl;oy;bkz;l; gj;jpuk; K:ykhf
bfhLj;Jtpl;nlhkhifahy; ,J Kjy; ic&
jh;k rj;jpuj;jpd; jw;fhy oh;!l
; ;hpf;fshfpa
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 8/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 Ie;J ngUk; ic& jh;k tPli ; l ic& jh;k r';fj;jpd; egUf;F. FoTypf; tpl;L. mjpy; tUk; FoTypapUe;J ic& bfl;Lf;Fz;lhd thp. hpg;ngh; bryt[fs; nghf kPjp ,Uf;Fk;
bjhifapy; khjk; xd;Wf;F ic& jh;k
rj;jpuj;jpw;F K:yhjhukhf nrh;jJ
; itg;gjw;F
U:gha; xd;W ek;kplk; itj;Jf;bfhz;L kPjp
bjhifia nky; brhd;d jh;k';fSf;F
cgnahfpj;Jtuf; flnthk;/ ve;j
fhyj;jpyhtJ ic& tPl;od; Fof; TyptUk; go Fiwt[g;gl;L. nky; fz;l jh;k';fshf bra;tjw;F bjhif nghjhkpypUe;jhy; me;j fhyj;jpy; ic& jh;k';fSf;fhf Fiwt[g;gLk;
bjhifia nky;fz;l go nrh;jJ
; tUk;
K:yjdj;jpd; tl;oapypUe;J bryt[ bra;Jf;
bfhs;s flnthk;/ ek;kpy; fe;jrhkp brl;oahu;
vd;gth; ic& jh;ktPli
; l thliff;Ftpl;L
thlifia tR{y; bra;J ic& thlifia
ek;kpy; nfhghY brl;oahhplk;
bfhLf;fntz;oaJ/ nfhkhY brl;oahu; mij
th';fpf;bfhz;L mjw;F rupahd tut[
bryt[fS;F itf;f ntz;oaJ/ ek;kpy; rkh;gh[ p
brl;oahUk; uh$P brl;oahUk;. nky; brhd;d
jh;k eguhd fpl;l ,Ue;J elj;jp
mjw;Fz;lhd rhpahd tut[. bryt[ fzf;F
itf;f ntz;oaJ/ ,e;j ehY ngh;fSk;
tp$au';f brl;oahUk; me;j je;j khjk;
Vw;gLk; tut[ bryt[ fzf;Ffis fhl;o
mitfs; rhpahd bjd;gjw;F nkw;go
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 9/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 fzf;Ffspy; mthplk; if vGj;J th';fp tuntz;oaJ ic& jh;kj;ij rhp tu elj;jp tuhtpl;lhy;. jh;kj;jpy; ,e;ija[ss ; vtUk mijg; gw;wp jf;f eltof;if elj;jp nky;go jh;kj;ij rhptu elj;j gpupaj;jpdg;glyhk;/ ,e;jg;gof;F ehk; Ie;J ngUk; Vnfhgpj;J vGjp itj;j brl;oy; bkz;l; gj;jpuk;.'
(g) The impugned order is only an interim measure and it is always open to the writ petitioners to raise these points in the enquiry. The impugned order clearly mentions that the enquiry is pending. Most relevant portion of the impugned order is contained in the concluding paragraph and the same reads as follows:
'thf;FK:yk; jd;dpiu tpsf;f mwpf;if Mfpad guprPypj;j tifapy; rj;jpuj;jpd; brhj;Jf;fis jd;dpr;irahf !;jhgfhpd; nehf;fj;jpw;F khwhf rpijj;J ghuhjPdk;
Mf;fpaJ cWjpahfpwJ/ nkw;fz;l
Fw;wr;rhl;Lfspd; mog;gilapy; nkw;go
mw';fhtyh;fs; bjhlh;eJ
; eph;thfk; ghh;jJ
;
te;jhy; Fw;wr;rhl;Lf;fhd Mtz';fis
nrjg;gLj;Jtnjh nkYk; brhj;Jf;fis guhjPdk; Mf;Ftnjh Vw;glyhk; vd;fpw Kiwapy; tzpf itrpa Fy jh;k rj;jpuk; mjDld; ,ize;j fl;lis brhj;Jf;fis jpUk;g bgwt[k;
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 10/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 bjhlh;eJ ; guhkhpf;ft[k; mtru mtrpak; fUjp ,Uf;Fk; Mtz';fspd; mog;gilapy;
brhj;Jf;fs; ghuhjPdk;. tUthapy; KiwnfL fl;lis g{i$fs; bjhlh;eJ ; elj;jhik rj;jpuk;
mjd; !;jhgfhpd; nehf;fj;jpd;go ,ytrkhf
nrthh;jj
; pfs; j';f mDkjpf;fhjJk; bryt[
fzf;Ffs; Kiwahf tprhuizf;F bjhlh;rr ; paha;
jhf;fy; bra;ahik vd;fpw tifapy;
Fw;wr;rhl;Lfs; epYitapy; ,Uf;f jw;nghija
eph;thfpfis rl;lg;gphpt[ 53(2) d; go jw;fhypf gjtp ePff ; k; bra;ag;gLfpwJ/ nkYk;. br';fy;gl;L cjtp MizauJ neho tprhuizapy;
mspf;fg;gl;l thf;FK:yk; kw;Wk; Mtz';fspd; mog;gilapYk;. Ruf Ma;th; kw;Wk; jpUg;nghU:h; mUs;kpF fe;jRthkp jpUf;nfhapypd; bray; mYtyh; MfpnahuJ mwpf;ifapd; mog;gilapYk; nkw;go jh;k rj;jpuj;jpd; eph;thfj;ij jpwk;gl elj;jptu jpUg;nghU:h; mUs;kpF fe;jRthkp nfhapypd; bray; mYtyiu rl;lg;gphpt[ 49(1)d; fPH; cjtp MizaUf;F tH';fg;gl;Ls;s mjpfhuj;jpd; mog;gilapy; jf;fhuhf epakdk;
bra;J cj;jutplg;gLfpwJ/ jf;fhh; bghWg;ngw;W
rj;jpuk; kw;Wk; mjDld; ,ize;j ,ju
mira[k; kw;Wk; mirah brhj;Jf;fs; Fwpj;j
bghWg;g[ gl;oaiy ,t;tYtyfj;jpw;F rkh;g;gpf;f nkw;go tzpf itc&a jh;k rj;jpuj;jpd; jf;fhh;- bray; mYtyUf;F cj;jutplg;gLfpwJ/' https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 11/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021
(h)As already alluded to supra, in the above mentioned concluding paragraph, it has been mentioned that the impugned order has been made under Sections 53(2) and 49(1) of TN HR & CE Act. Obviously, the order is under Section 53(4) of TN HR & CE Act. As already delineated supra, quoting a wrong provision of law will not invalidate an order as long as the authority has powers to make the order.
3. Arguments made by learned senior counsel in the hearing (notwithstanding very many averments made and very many grounds raised in the writ affidavit) have been dealt with.
4. The impugned order does mention in one part that the charges have been proved. To this extent, it is incorrect. It is the concluding paragraph that will prevail and the enquiry has to necessarily proceed.
5. If the writ petitioners choose to approach the jurisdictional Joint Commissioner under Section 63(d), 63(c) or 63(a), the writ petitioners are well open to adopt that course. If such a scenario unfurls qua said https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 12/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 entity, the same shall be examined on its own merits in accordance with law and in accordance with the procedure laid down by TN HR & CE Act and Rules made thereunder uninfluenced by the observations made supra in this order. The above observations have been made for the limited purpose of disposal of captioned writ petition in the Admission Board. It is also made clear that a decision under Section 63(d), 63(c) or 63(a) of Act qua said entity requires quasi judicial adjudication which involves documentary and oral evidence. Views expressed in writ jurisdiction (that too in Admission Board) are prima facie views. For the purpose of window to the writ petitioner, it is made clear that jurisdictional Joint Commissioner can proceed untrammelled by any observations in this order which have the trappings of expression of opinion on merits in this order.
6. Therefore, for the reasons adumbrated supra, captioned writ petition deserves to be dismissed subject to the window provided to the writ petitioners.
Captioned writ petition is dismissed. Consequently, connected WMPs are also dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 13/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 05.10.2021 Index: Yes/No Speaking Order: Yes/No gpa To
1. The Hindu Religious and Endowment Department Rep. By its Commissioner Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai – 600 034.
2. The Assistant Commissioner The Hindu Religious and Endowment Department Chengalpet.
3. The Executive Officer, Arulmigu Kandasamy Temple, Thiruporur.
https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 14/15 W.P.No.21310 of 2021 M.SUNDAR.J., gpa W.P.No. 21310 of 2021& W.M.P.Nos.22550, 22548 & 22549 of 2021 05.10.2021 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 15/15