Judgment Case ID: 2695

Judgment:
Appeal No. 1787 of 1966. Appeal from the judgment and decree dated May 18	 1964 of the Kerala High Court in Appeal Suit No. 591 of 1963. 125 D. Narsaraju and A. section Nambiar	 for the appellants. W.S. Badingay	 R. Mahalingier and Ganpat Rai	 for respondents Nos. 1 and 2. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by Ray	 J. This is an appeal from the judgment dated 18 May	 1964 of the High Court of Kerala allowing the appeal in part and allowing declaration to the effect that the plaintiffs are next in the line of succession to V.L. Lazar and T.V. John respectively and that they are entitled to claim an appointment as trustees. The High Court	 however	 concluded by saying that such appointment could be made in a properly framed suit under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Counsel for the appellants contended that the High Court was in error in making the declaration particularly when the High Court said that such appointment could be made only in a properly framed suit under section 92 of the Code. In order to appreciate the matters in controversy it is necessary to refer to a few facts and the frame of the suit. The plaintiffs filed this suit in 1961 for a declaration that defendants numbered 4 to 9 were "trespassers" on the trust and that all acts and proceedings of defendants numbered 1 to 9 done since the resignation of T.V. John and V.L. Lazar in respect of the administration of the trust are invalid and void; that the plaintiffs be appointed as trustees; that defendants numbered 10 to 11 be declared to be	 and to have always been	 lawful trustees and for injunction restraining defendants numbered 4 to 9 from interfering with the trust; that an enquiry be made into their administration and accounts	 recovery of properties and funds misused	 wasted	 disbursed or appropriated	 and that defendant numbered 1 to 3 be declared to be unfit to continue as trustees. There was a deed of settlement dated 20 December	 1953 executed by a Christian T.V. Kochuvareed called "Thattil Kochuvareed Educational and Charitable Trust". Apart from the settlor	 V.L. Lazar father of the first plaintiff and T.V. John father of the second plaintiff and defendants numbered 1 to 3	 10 and 11 were trustees. On 27 May	 1957 V.L. Lazar resigned from the trusteeship. On 12 March	 1960 T.V. John followed suit. The settlor and the rest of the trustees appointed six more trustees being defendants numbered 4 to 9 inclusive. The settlor Kochuvareed died on 26 July	 1961. On 28 November	 1961 respondents numbered 1 and 2 namely	 John son of V.L. Lazar and Varghese son of T.V. John the 126 plaintiffs filed suit O.S. No. 115 of 1961 claiming	 inter alia	 that the plaintiffs be appointed as trustees. At the trial two preliminary issues were framed: Whether the suit was maintainable due to want of compliance with section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure and whether the Court had jurisdiction to try this suit relating to trust. The trial Court came to the conclusion that the suit was within the mischief of non compliance with the provisions of section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The trial Court on 12 March	 1962 dismissed the suit and held that the suit had to be instituted after obtaining sanction under section 92 of the Code. The plaintiffs filed an appeal. On appeal the High Court on 20 August	 1962 allowed the appeal in part and set aside the dismissal of the suit in so far as it related to prayer 'e ' and remanded the suit to the trial Court for trial in respect of that claim. The trial Court on remand by judgment dated 23 August	 1963 held that the suit as flamed was maintainable and the plaintiffs were entitled to be declared as rightful trustees but the second plaintiff would have to exercise rights as trustee only on attaining majority. Prayer 'e ' in the plaint was as follows : "That plaintiffs be appointed to their rightful place as trustees and the second plaintiff being a minor now	 be permitted to exercise his rights and safeguard his interests until he attains majority	 through his 'Next Friend	 namely his father". The appellants	 viz.	 defendants numbered 4 to 9 preferred an appeal. The High Court on 18 May	 1964 allowed the appeal in part and altered the declaration to the effect that the plaintiffs were next in the line of succession and that they were entitled to claim appointment as trustees	 but such appointment could be only in a properly framed suit. Counsel for the appellants contended that prayer 'e ' was within the mischief of section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure. It was further said that the plaintiffs (respondents 1 and 2) filed a fresh suit O.S. No. 1 of 1965 in the District Court	 Trichur under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure praying	 inter alia	 for reliefs of removal of defendants numbered 4 to 9 and appointment of the plaintiffs as trustees in place of their respective fathers who resigned from such office and for other reliefs. Counsel for the appellants contended that the finding in the present appeal that the plaintiffs were entitled to a declaration for appointment would constitute res judicata unless the same finding was set aside and 127 the matter was kept entirely open in the new suit filed by respondents 1 and 2. Counsel for the respondents contended that the decision of the High Court could be upheld because all that it said was that the plaintiffs were entitled to a right and the question of appointment would be canvassed in the suit. This contention is unacceptable because a suit for a bare declaration of right without further relief for possession and other reliefs as the facts and circumstances would require is not supportable. The provisions of section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure indicate	 inter alia	 that a suit for appointment of new trustees is competent only after compliance with the provisions of section 92 of the Code. The plaintiffs	 namely	 respondents 1 and 2 in the present case	 alleged that defendants numbered 4 to 9 were strangers and "trespassers" in relation to the trust	 and that the other defendants illegally introduced defendants numbered 4 to 9 into the Board of Trustees. The plaintiffs further alleged that defendants numbered 1 to 9 were guilty of waste and misappropriation. The plaintiffs further alleged that they had exclusive right to be appointed trustees. Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure prohibits a plaintiff from obtaining relief of appointment of new trustees without the compliance with the provision of the said section of the Code. The only question is whether prayer 'e ' in the plaint can be said to be one for appointment of new trustees. The plaintiffs asked for appointment. It was said by counsel for the respondents that the plaintiffs under the deed of trust could be appointed trustees. Reliance was placed on clause (6) of the deed of trust which	 inter alia	 stated that in the case of a vacancy	 the remaining trustees were to appoint a new trustee. It	 therefore	 follows that even under clause (6) of the deed of trust it would be an appointment of new trustees. The trustees in the present case did not appoint new trustees. The plaintiffs	 therefore	 came to court. The reason why the plaintiffs sought the aid of the Court is the appointment of trustees. It is only because the other trustees did not appoint a new trustee that the plaintiffs took recourse to the institution of the suit for the appointment of trustees. Further	 unless the defendants are removed there cannot be an appointment of new trustees. We are	 therefore	 of opion that prayer 'e ' in the present case	 viz. the plaintiffs be appointed as trustees falls within the provisions of section 92 of the Code. If as we held that the appointment of new trustees falls within section 92 of the Code can it yet be said that the plaintiffs will be entitled to a bare declaration of their right to be appointed. In the first place	 it will be granting them the right to be appointed 128 which itself is the foundation of appointment. If the appointment fails within the vice of section 92 any decision giving them the right "to be appointed will be prejudging the question and will be an impediment as far as the defendants are concerned in questioning the right of the plaintiffs to be appointed as trustees. Secondly	 it is well settled that if any matter is directly prohibited	 the same cannot be achieved indirectly. The appointment of new trustees is prohibited ' in the absence of the compliance with the provisions of section 92 of the Code. If a right is granted to the plaintiffs to be appointed as trustees it will amount to an indirect way of giving the plaintiffs the relief of the right to be appointed. It will be particularly so because the right will be res inclusa and will	 therefore	 be res judicata. The right will not be open to be questioned in subsequent proceedings. Thirdly	 if the appointment of new trustees cannot be proceeded with in the absence of compliance with the provisions of section 92 of the Code and when a suit has been instituted by the plaintiffs for the self same reliefs after compliance with section 92 of the Code it is all the more necessary that the entire question of appointment which presupposes as its foundation the right to be appointed should be gone into the newly instituted suit in 1965 to which reference is made earlier. Fourthly	 a bare declaration of right will be within the mischief of section 42 of the and section 34 of the . We are	 therefore	 of opinion that the judgment of the High Court giving the plaintiffs the right to be appointed trustees should be set aside. It is made clear that contentions of the rival parties in the newly instituted suit are left open. The finding of the High Court and the: declaration granted by the High Court are both set aside. The suit is	 therefore	 dismissed. For these reasons	 the appeal is accepted and is allowed. The appellants will be entitled to costs. V.P.S. Appeal allowed.

Summary:
By a deed of settlement	 the settlor appointed besides himself	 the father of the first plaintiff	 the father of the second plaintiff	 and defendants 1 to 3 and 10 and 11	 as. trustees of an Educational and Charitable Trust. On the resignation of the fathers of the two plaintiffs	 the remaining trustees appointed defendants 4 to 9 as trustees. The plaintiffs flied a suit making allegations against defendants 1 to 9 and claimed that they should be appointed as trustees. The High Court	 in 'appeal	 gave a declaration to the effect that the plaintiffs were; next in the line of succession	 that they were entitled to claim appointment as trustees	 but that such appointment could be made only in a properly framed suit after complying with the requirements of section 92	 Civil Procedure Code. The plaintiffs thereupon filed a fresh suit under section 92	 C.P.C. Meanwhile	 the defendants in the 	earlier suit filed an appeal against the judgment of the High Court	 to this Court. HELD: The suit was for appointment of the plaintiffs as trustees and fell within the provisions of section 92	 C.P.C. Therefore	 the judgment of the High Court giving the plaintiffs the right to be appointed as trustees	 when the provisions of the section were not complied with	 should be set aside. [127 H; 128 E] (a) If the appointment fell within the vice of section 92 any decision giving the plaintiffs the right to be appointed will be prejudging the question and would be an impediment as far as the defendants are concerned	 in questioning	 in the second suit	 the right of the plaintiffs to be appointed as trustees. [128 A B] (b) If the right to be appointed as trustees were to be granted 10 the plaintiffs in the absence of compliance with the provisions of the section	 it would amount to an indirect way of giving what was directly prohibited. [128 B] (c) If the declaration were 'allowed to stand it would operate as res judicata and it would not be open to the defendants to question it in the subsequent proceedings. flied for the same relief after compliance with the section. [128 B C] (d) A hare declaration of the right without consequential relief will be within the mischief of section 42 of the or section 34 of the . [128 D E]