Tag: Religious Institution

Liberty to Sue Doesn’t Mean Relitigation: Supreme Court Restores Appeal in Ryotwari Act Dispute
Supreme Court

Liberty to Sue Doesn’t Mean Relitigation: Supreme Court Restores Appeal in Ryotwari Act Dispute

The Supreme Court held that High Courts under Section 100 CPC must frame only correct and appropriate substantial questions of law; erroneous formulation vitiates the second appellate judgment. Liberty to sue reserved in statutory proceedings does not permit reconsideration of concluded issues. Matter remanded for fresh admission and framing of proper substantial questions. Facts Of The Case: The dispute originated from proceedings under the Tamil Nadu Inam (Abolition and Conversion into Ryotwari) Act, 1963, concerning land in Tamil Nadu. The appellant-temple authority obtained patta grants in its favour through orders passed under the Act. However, when the matter reached the High Court in its appellate statutory capacity, the Court by order dated 22.09.1989 confirmed the grant of patta...
Natural Justice Upheld: Supreme Court Says Parties Must Be Heard on Adverse Directions
Supreme Court

Natural Justice Upheld: Supreme Court Says Parties Must Be Heard on Adverse Directions

The Supreme Court ruled that a writ court cannot travel beyond the reliefs sought in the petition and pass adverse orders that render a petitioner worse off. Such directions, issued without notice, violate principles of natural justice. A litigant cannot be penalized for approaching the court, as it would seriously impact access to justice. Facts Of The Case: The case involved the Cochin Devaswom Board and the Chinmaya Mission Trust. The Trust had been allotted land in 1974 near the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur to build a hall for marriages and cultural activities, for an annual license fee of Rs. 101. After subsequent allotments, the total fee was fixed at Rs. 227.25 per annum. In 2014, the Board unilaterally enhanced this fee to Rs. 1,50,000 per annum. The Trust challenged this dr...