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Judgment
Varadachariar, J.—This appeal arises out of a suit u/s 63(4) of the Hindu Religious Endowments Act, impugning a scheme framed by the
Board for the management of a group of mutts. Only two points have been pressed before us : (1) as to the propriety of giving the associate trustee
overriding powers over the Mahant, and (2) as to the power of the Board to settle a list of properties belonging to the institution. The latter point
may be briefly disposed of.
It does not appear from the record whether any objection was taken by or on behalf of the Mahant before the Board about the properties to be
included in the list attached to the scheme of properties belonging to the mutt. We cannot agree with the contention advanced by Mr. Jagannath
Doss, on behalf of the Mahant, that the Board has no power to settle such a list. Section 63 undoubtedly gives power to the Board to frame a
scheme for the management of the institution and this power carries with it the power to settle what the properties of the institution are, so that the
authority framing the scheme may know what properties are to be governed by the scheme and what the resources are whose disposal is to be
provided for by the scheme. A question of this kind was raised before this Court in Vaithinatha Aiyar v. Thyagaraja Aiyar (1919) 41 M.L.J. 20
and the learned Judges held that in a suit u/s 92, Civil Procedure Code, asking for the framing of a scheme, the Court has the power to settle the
question whether certain properties belong to the institution or not. This decision was confirmed on appeal by the Privy Council in Vaidyanatha
Aiyar v. Swaminatha Aiyar (1924) 47 M.L.J. 361 : L.R. 51 IndAp 282 : ILR 47 Mad. 884 (P.C.) and though the question of the Court''s power
was not specifically raised before their Lordships, the Judicial Committee did deal with the merits of the claim, thus clearly implying that this was
within the legitimate scope of the Court''s power when framing a scheme. Some observations on this question will also be found in Anjaneya Sastri
v. Kothandapani Chettiar (1935) 43 L.W. 409.
In the lower Court an attempt was also made to prove that some of the properties included in the list attached to the scheme Ex. F are the
private properties of the Mahant and do not belong to the mutt. In support of that claim, reliance was placed on the circumstance that these
properties came to the present Mahant under the will of his predecessor Ex. D. As the learned Judge has pointed out, this will makes no distinction
between the properties now claimed as the private properties of the Mahant and the other properties in respect of which no doubt has been raised
as to the ownership of the mutt. From the few sale deeds filed in the case, it no doubt appears that some of those properties were purchased in the
name of the prior Mahant; but it being admitted that he was an ascetic and celibate and the head of the institution, the probabilities are that they
were purchased with the funds of the institution. At any rate, in the absence of anything to show any difference in his method of dealing with these
properties as compared with the other admitted properties of the institution, the Court is entitled to draw the inference that he purchased them for
the benefit of the institution. We therefore see no reason to interfere with the lower Court''s decision on this point.
Proceeding next to the objection taken to Clauses 2 and 3 of the scheme, we think that the appellant''s objection to these clauses is well
founded. We agree with the learned Judge that the circumstances justify the appointment of an associate trustee; but Section 63 does not
contemplate that the person so added is in effect to supersede the Mahant. Clauses 2 of the scheme almost makes it clear that the new trustee is to
have the management of the institution, with a vague direction that in so managing it, he may avail himself of the help and advice of the Mahant in all
important matters. We are not satisfied that this kind of substantial supersession of the Mahant is warranted by the terms of Section 63. Clause 3
of the scheme gives further effect to the principle underlying Clause 2 by declaring that in matters in which the Mahant might not co-operate with
the paid trustee, the paid trustee should have the power to act independently of him. It is true that the scheme draws a distinction between religious
matters and secular matters and leaves the Mahant comparatively free in religious matters. This distinction is more easily drawn on paper than
worked in practice. But apart from that consideration, for the reasons we have already given, this kind of special power conferred on the new
trustee is not warranted by the Act. We appreciate the necessity for some provision to ensure the working of the institution in the event of a
deadlock between the two trustees; but the Board or other competent authority must devise some means of ensuring it in a form consistent with the
provisions of the Act. We must accordingly direct that Clauses 2 and 3 of the scheme Ex. F, must be omitted and a general provision inserted that
the paid trustee appointed under el. 1 shall have the powers which a co-trustee will have under the general law.
We are informed that the locality in which the suit institution is situate has now ceased to form part of this presidency and we do not know which
authority will in the new state of things be competent to deal with this institution by way of supervision. All that we can do at this stage is to leave
the matter with the above direction, so that any other authority competent to give further directions may do so when the contingency contemplated
by Clause 6 of the scheme is availed of.
The appeal is accordingly allowed to the extent above indicated and in other respects dismissed. There will be no order as to costs because the
parties succeed in part and fail in part.
Mockett, J.
I agree.
u/s 63(1)(c) of the Hindu Religious Endowments Act provision is made for associating one or more persons with the trustee for the purpose of
participating or assisting in the administration of the endowments By that I understand that the person appointed is to participate with the trustee
and to assist the trustee. What has happened in this case is that a paid trustee has been appointed who as I understand Clause 2 of the scheme has
the right to have his views and intended actions prevail over the present Mahant and the result seems to be that the position of the Mahant is
virtually negligible. It is the paid trustee who is to manage the institution, he can ask for the advice and the help of the Mahant but nothing is said
about the necessity for him to accept them and the whole of that part of the scheme is qualified by the most ambiguous words ""in all important
matters"". Then Clause 3 ""if the Mahant does not cooperate, the paid trustee can act independently"". It seems to me the result is that the Mahant
remains there as a mere cipher so far as secular matters are concerned and so far as the powers are concerned he might very well have been
removed. In my view this position is not contemplated by any of the relevant provisions of the Act. If the Board desire to remove the trustee,
provision is made by Section 73. If they desire to retain him then provision must be made as indicated by my learned brother for a scheme by
which he continues to function but in co-operation with somebody else nominated by the Board.