PRATHI SUBBAIAH CHETTY Vs. GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ petition has been filed questioning the appointment of 5th respondent as the Founder-Trustee of the endowment institution concerned. The Endowment concerned has got an annual income between Rs. 50,000.00and Rs. 5,00,000/- and as such it falls in the category of institutions under Section 6(b)(i) of the A.P. Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'). The 5th respondent was appointed as Founder-Trustee by the Assistant Commissioner-fourth respondent vide proceedings dated 30-12-1998. The Founder-Trustee has to be appointed because of the Judgment of the Supreme Court interpreting the provisions of the Act. There is a claim of the petitioners for such appointment and as such there is a dispute and the dispute has to be resolved. It is stated that there was no such notification issued so as to enable the Trustees like the petitioners to make any claim.

(2.) Be that as it may, the impugned order of appointment as confirmed by the Regional Joint Commissioner itself is in violation of Sections 15 and 17 of the Act. The said Sections read together make it clear that it is the Deputy Commissioner who has to make appointment in respect of Section 6(b)(i) institutions. If there is a factual dispute with regard to the category of institutions, we would not have entertained this writ petition as it would involve a disputed question of fact requiring an enquiry. In the counter-affidavit filed by the Endowment authorities, it is admitted that the institution in question falls under Section 6(b)(i) -category.

(3.) Mr. S. Satyanarayana Prasad, learned Government Pleader would argue that regardless of the fact that the institution in question falls under Section 6(b)(i) category, the fourth respondent, who is the Assistant Commissioner, is entitled to exercise his right under section 43(4)(b) of the Act. He also makes a reference to the Circular No. J5/5288/96 (Act & Rules) dated 25-3-1996 issued by the Commissioner (Endowments). In para-4 of the said Circular, it is stated that if there is no entry with regard to the name of the founder as contemplated under Section 43(4)(b) of the Act, an application has to be filed before the Assistant Commissioner to consider the claim and then the Assistant Commissioner after making an enquiry should make necessary entries. But, it is only a consequential act pursuant to the appointment of founder Trustee and in fact it is a sort of ministerial act and not a statutory function. The statutory function vests in the Deputy Commissioner under Section 15 of the Act, the procedure whereof is provided under Section 17 of the Act and these provisions are mandatory and there can't be any exception to the same. When the Act names the authority and the manner in which that authority has to function, it is the basic tenet of interpretation of a Statute that such a plain and unambiguous provisions should not be twisted and distorted. It is not out of place to mention that there are Rules framed for appointing the Trustees which includes the Founder Trustee titled: Appointment of Trustees Rules, 1987 issued in G.O.Ms.No. 258 Revenue (Endowments-I) dated 31-3-1988, which had been issued in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of Section 17 read with Section 153 of the Act. Under Rule 3, the Assistant Commissioner has to report to the authority competent to appoint trustee/s about the vacancy of trustee/s and Rule 4 then enables the competent authority to appoint the trustee/s. The Circular aforementioned has to be interpreted in consonance with the said Rules. The net result is that the Assistant Commissioner has to notify the vacancy of trustee/s and then the competent authority, may be the Assistant Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner or the Commissioner having regard to the category of institutions mentioned in Section 6 (a), (b) and (c), has to appoint the Trustee including Founder Trustee, by making enquiry if there are rival claims, and after obtaining such finality of appointment of Trustee/s including Founder Trustee/s, the Assistant Commissioner under the aforementioned Circular has to make entries in the Register to be maintained under Section 43(4)(b) of the Act.