Full Judgment Text
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 4210-4211 OF 2008
(Arising out of SLP(C)Nos. 15025-15026/2008)
N.SUGALCHAND JAIN .. APPELLANT
vs.
MITTALAL JAIN & ORS. .. RESPONDENTS
ORDER
Leave granted.
The respondent No.1 herein, Shri Mittalal Jain, founded the Sayarbai
Educational and Charitable Trust on 9th October, 1997. By a supplementary deed
dated 12.2.2001, he became the Chairman-cum-Managing Trustee for life of the
Trust. Subsequently, on 12.5.2005, the appellant and his two sons were also made
Trustees. Subsequently, in a meeting held on 13.5.2008, the appellant, as alleged by
him, is said to have been made the Managing Trustee of the Trust. Thereafter,
disputes arose with regard to the management of the Trust and the Institution being
run by it which led to the filing of two suits, being OS No. 83/2007 filed by the
respondent No.1, in the Court of Principal District Judge, Vellore. The appellant
also filed OS No. 76/2007 and in both the suits applications were made for grant of
interim orders.
Ultimately, the prayer for interim order made by the appellant in his suit
was allowed and that of the respondent No.1 was refused. Against the said order,
two Civil Miscellaneous Appeals were filed and both are pending in the High Court.
The High Court by a common order dated 28.5.2008 stayed the operation of the
interim order passed
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in the appellant’s favour and the respondent No.1 Mittalal Jain, therefore, became
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entitled to act as Chairman/Managing Trustee of the Trust and the Institution and
the appellant herein, along with respondent Nos.3 to 5 herein, were restrained from
interfering in any manner with his functioning as such Chairman/Managing Trustee
of the Trust and the Institution. This special leave petition has been filed against the
said judgment and order of the High Court.
During the course of the hearing a suggestion was made by both the
parties that till the suits were disposed of, some suitable arrangement could be made
for management of the Trust, as also the Institution, whereby the interest of the
Trust and the Institution would be secured. The proposal, therefore, mooted for the
appointment of a Receiver to run the affairs of the Trust and the Institution till the
suits were decided.
Having regard to the aforesaid submissions made on behalf of both the
parties, we dispose of the appeal by appointing Hon’ble Mr. Justice K.P.
Sivasubramanian, retired Judge of the Madras High Court, as the Administrator of
the Sayarbai Educations and Charitable Trust, Kaniyambadi, Vellore, and the
Educational Institution, namely, Ganadipathy Tulsi’s Jain Engineering College,
Chittoor, Cuddalore Road, Kaniyambadi, Vellore-632102. The Administrator shall
assume charge of the affairs of the Trust and the Educational Institution on or
before 15.7.2008. Both the appellant and the respondent No.1 shall cooperate with
the Administrator in enabling him to take charge of the Trust as well as of the
Institution and shall make over to him whatever records are available with them.
The Administrator is also authorized to operate the Bank Accounts of the Trust and
the Institution. For
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the time being, in place and stead of the appellant and the respondent No.1, who
are entitled to operate the said Bank Accounts of the Trust and Institution, the
Administrator shall be entitled to operate the said accounts. The Administrator
shall be provided with transport and such Ministerial staff, as he may require in
carrying out his duties and day-to-day functions, and the expenses therefor shall be
met from the funds of the Trust. Having regard to this order being passed
by us, the Civil Miscellaneous Appeals pending before the High Court shall stand
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disposed of.
The interim orders as passed in the two pending suits shall stand
modified by this order. The learned Judge, before whom the two suits are pending,
shall make earnest endeavours to dispose of the same as expeditiously as possible,
but preferably within a period of one year from the date of communication of this
order. The honorarium of the Administrator is fixed at Rs. 75,000/- (Rupees
Seventy Five Thousand) p.m. While deciding the pending suits the learned Judge is
not to be influenced in any way by any of the directions contained in this order.
This order is being passed without prejudice to the rights and contentions of the
parties in the suit.
The Administrator appointed by us will be at liberty to request the
appellant as well as the respondent No.1 to assist him in the administration of the
Trust and the Institution.
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The appeals are disposed of. The impugned order of the High Court is
set aside. There will be no order as to costs.
The Registry is directed to send a copy of this order to the Hon’ble Mr.
Justice K.P.Sivasubramanian. The parties are also directed to communicate this
order to the learned Judge.
.....................J.
(ALTAMAS KABIR)
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.....................J.
(G.S. SINGHVI)
NEW DELHI;
JULY 2, 2008.