PRAFULLA C.PANT,J. - (1.) This appeal is directed against judgment and order dated 24.03.2010, passed by the High Court of Karnataka at Bangalore in R.F.A. No. 788 of 2009 (DEC -INJ), whereby said Court has dismissed the appeal. The appeal before the High Court had arisen out of the decree passed by the XXVII Additional City Civil Judge, Bangalore, in O.S. No. 2680 of 2000, whereby the suit seeking declaration that the plaintiff is Donor Trustee, was decreed by the trial court in her favour.
(2.) Brief facts of the case are that the plaintiff (Respondent No. 1 herein) Ragini Narayan filed a suit for declaration that after death of her husband, she is the Donor Trustee of B.M. Sreenivasaiah Educational Trust, Bangalore (for short "BMS Trust"). It is not disputed that late Shri B.M. Sreenivasaiah, a philanthropist, started BMS College of Engineering in the year 1946. After his death it was his son B.S. Narayan, who was running the institution. In 1957, the institution was transferred to BMS Trust by B.S. Narayan (since died). The then Government of Mysore (now Government of Karnataka) extended financial assistance to the Trust to clear its encumbrances, and agreed to establish the BMS College for Women by the Trust. It is stated that the appellant/ Government of Karnataka gave grant -in -aid for the three colleges run by the Trust.
(3.) The plaintiff's case is that she is legally wedded wife of B.S. Narayan (the original Donor Trustee) as she got married to him on 21.05.1984, after he divorced his first wife, namely, Smt. Minnie Narayan. It is pleaded that the plaintiff continued to live as his wife till his death on 23.08.1995. It is further pleaded that vide Trust Deed dated 02.12.1957, Dharmaprakasha Rajakaryasakta B.M. Sreenivasaiah Educational Trust was created by B.S. Narayan, his mother and step mother by transferring properties worth Rs.5000 crores. The Council of Trustees consisted of five members (trustees) with B.S. Narayan as a Donor Trustee. In terms of the Trust Deed B.S. Narayan and all his successors had the right to appoint three of the trustees while the remaining one trustee was to be appointed/nominated by the Government of Karnataka (defendant No 2/appellant herein).;