Bharti Sangam Trust v. Shri Vidya Charan Shukla & Ors

PRADEEP NANDRAJOG, J.(Oral)

¶1Vide impugned order dated 26.8.2009, CS(OS) No.1401/2005 filed by Bharat Sangam Trust under the signatures of Jagdish Sharma, claiming to be a trustee, has been dismissed: holding that Mr.Jagdish Sharma had neither pleaded nor shown any authority to sue on behalf of the plaintiff.

¶2The suit in question seeks a declaration pertaining to an agreement dated 10.2.2005, signed by Sh.Vidya Charan

Shukla, defendant No.1, creating rights in favour of defendants No.2 and 3 i.e. MGF Development Ltd. and M/s.Columbia Holdings Pvt. Ltd. Under the agreement, a 0.5 acre land allotted by L&DO to Bharat Sangam Trust is to be developed, as per averments made in the plaint through defendants No.2 and 3. It is alleged in the plaint that the agreement in question fouls the terms under which L&DO has demised the land to Bharat Sangam Trust. The prayer in the plaint is predicated on the ground that if the agreement is allowed to be implemented, the plaintiff would lose a valuable property.

¶3We have read the plaint and have repeatedly called upon learned counsel for the appellant to show us the averment in the plaint that Jagdish Sharma has been authorized to sue on behalf of Bharat Sangam Trust. Learned counsel concedes that there is no such averment in the plaint.

¶4The only paragraph in the plaint where name of Jagdish Sharma is mentioned is paragraph No.1, 23 and 24 wherein following is pleaded:- "1. That the plaintiff is a Trust duly registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and Shri Jagdish Sharma is one of its Trustees.

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¶23That in the evening of 10.2.2005 Jagdish Sharma received a telephone call from one of the security guards employed at the premises of the plaintiff complaining that some people are trying to make a forcible entry into the property. The said persons were fully armed and were threatening the guards with serious consequences. The said persons claimed themselves to be the new owners

of the property. On contracting defendant No.1, it was falsely told that he has not entered into any agreement with anybody. However, Police was called at about 11.45 – 12.00 p.m. and when the PCR Van arrived at the suit property, the said person ran away from the property.

¶24That on 12.2.2005 Jagdish Sharma lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Police and sent the copy to Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Hon'ble Home Minister of India, Hon'ble the Lt.Governor of Delhi, Dy. Commissioner of Police, Economic Offences Wing and Station House Officer, PS: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi."

¶5Learned counsel for the appellant concedes that averments made in paragraphs No.23 and 24 would have no bearing on the issue whether Jagdish Sharma could sue on behalf of Bharat Sangam Trust, but urges that averments in paragraph 1 of the plaint constitute sufficient authority in Jagdish Sharma, required to be pleaded, for the suit to be filed under his signatures.

¶6Now, as pleaded in para 1 of the plaint, and indeed as a matter of fact, Bharat Sangam Trust is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act as pleaded and argued before us today; and if this be so, Jagdish Sharma has to show to us his competence to sue on behalf of Bharat Sangam Trust by referring to either the bye-laws of the society, if they so empower him, or a resolution by the management of the society authorizing him to do so. Learned counsel concedes that there is none.

¶7Learned counsel seeks to urge that as a citizen, Jagdish Sharma can draw the attention of the Court to a wrong

done by a society and in this context urges the maintainability of the suit.

¶8If Jagdish Sharma wants to maintain an action as a citizen of this country, he has then to sue in his own name.

¶9Learned counsel for the appellant states that as recorded in the order dated 3rd May 2010 the matter may be treated as a Public Interest Litigation. The order in question reads as under:- "Issue notice. Ms.Prachin Pandey, Advocate accepts notice on behalf of respondent No.1. Mr.Nikhil Srivastava, Advocate accepts notice on behalf of respondent Nos.2 and 3.

Learned Senior Counsel for respondent No.1 has informed us that a Suit for specific performance had been filed by respondent Nos.2 and 3, which has since been dismissed. He further states that respondent No.1 may have no objection if the entire matter is heard as a PIL, in terms of Sheela Barse

(1988) 4 SCC 226, provided, the appellant is discharged of any further obligation.

Suit No.1580/2006 be sent for the next date of hearing.

Renotify on 25th May, 2010."

¶10The order in question does not direct that the instant appeal would be treated as a Public Interest Litigation. It only records, if we may use the expression, a puffed up stand taken by the first respondent that he has no objection if the matter is heard as a Public Interest Litigation.

¶11If Jagdish Sharma wants to maintain a Public Interest Action, he is free to do so as per procedures established by law and not in the manner sought for i.e. a RFA(OS) being converted into a Public Interest Litigation.

¶12The appeal is dismissed but without any order as to costs.

(PRADEEP NANDRAJOG) JUDGE

(S.P. GARG) JUDGE NOVEMBER 08, 2011 dk

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI % Date of Decision : 9th November, 2011 + RFA(OS) 122/2009 BHARTI SANGAM TRUST ....Appellant Through : Mr.Ajay Kumar Agarwal, Advocate. versus SHRI VIDYA CHARAN SHUKLA & ORS. ....Respondents Through: Ms.Prachi Mishra, Advocate for R-1. Mr.Sachin Datta and Ms.Gayatri Verma, Advocates for R-4/UOI. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP NANDRAJOG HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.P.GARG 1. Whether the Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment? 2. To be referred to Reporter or not? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest?