Maninder Singh Maker And Ors vs Ajit Singh Maker And Ors

Yogesh Khanna, J

IA Nos.15607 and 15608 of 2017

These applications are (a) for modification of the order dated 20.11.2017 to an extent to exempt defendant no.1 the applicant herein from depositing

an amount of Rs.19.2 crores and (b) grant relief to the defendant no.1 to place on record the additional documents/records.

On 20.11.2011 an order was passed directing the defendant no.1 either to deposit in the Court an amount of Rs.19.2 crores or furnish a bank

guarantee to the extent of Rs.19.2 crores with the Registrar General of this Court within four weeks. Such an amount was qua consideration of the

sale of trust property.

On 21.04.2017 this Court noted the plea of the parties wherein the defendant in reply to IA No.23822/2014 reiterated an amount of Rs.19.2 crores

is lying secured in the account of defendants no.1 and 2 though their counsel was not sure if was lying in savings bank account or in the current

account of defendants and that such amount is kept alive during the pendency of the suit and will be not spent in the activities of the trust. However

the defendant no.1 I did not disclose as to where such amount was lying.

I had discussed in my order dated 20.11.2017 the objects of the trust which never gave any power to sell the property as noted in para 9. The

manner in which the defendants reframed rules and regulations of the trust giving more power to the trustees, including the power to sell the property

of the trust by simple majority (see clause 9 of the amended trust deed) would show the transaction fishy. The power of the trustees in initial trust

deed dated 06.03.1978 was limited only to framing rules for the conduct of management of the trust. It was only on considering over all facts viz.,

defendants being permanent residents of England the defendant no.1 was directed to do the needful.

Now the learned counsel for the defendant no.1 intends to place on record additional documents on behalf of defendant no.1 to impress the Court to

modify its earlier order. Such documents are photocopies of cheques showing the amount of Rs. 19.2 crores coming in the account of trust and then

being distributed as donations. These documents, even otherwise, are not relevant to decide the controversy, as would only further the arguments of

the defendant no.1 the amount has been distributed as donation to various organizations which argument is contrary to their earlier contention viz. the

amount of Rs.19.2 crores was kept for purchase of trust property at Ponta Sahib and is kept alive and would not be spent in activities of the trust.

Further the defendant no.1 intends to review the order dated 20.11.2017 by filing these documents but could not satisfy such documents if were not

available with the trust and why were not filed earlier and why contrary statements to such documents were made. The defendants have not put

forward a case of discovery of a new matter or such evidence not within the knowledge of defendant no.1 or could not be produced at the time

despite due diligence when the impugned order was made. There is no error apparent on the face of record hence there is no reason to modify it. The

applications are dismissed being devoid of merit.

CS(OS) 558/2014 IA Nos.4962/2015, 434/2018, 433/2018, CCP(O) 2/2018, CRL.M.A. 590/2018, 8598/2016

List for directions before Roster Bench on 15.02.2018.