The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court directed the Lucknow District Magistrate to take over the management of the society running the Christian College.
A Single Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh passed this order while hearing a petition filed by Bishop Subodh C. Mondal &Ors.
The Court observed that the affairs of the Lucknow Christian College are wholly mismanaged. Properties of the church/society are sold off by the persons, who have been/are at the helm of the affairs of the society. There are a number of litigations, which are pending before the Deputy Registrar, Chits, Firms and Societies, Civil Court and the Court regarding mismanagement of affairs of the society. The following institutions are run by the society:- i. Lucknow Christian Intermediate College; ii. Christian Training College; iii. Christian College of Physical Education; iv. Centennial Higher Secondary School; v. Lucknow Christian College School.
Sanjay Mishra, Additional Chief Standing Counsel, representing the State, submitted that looking at the allegations and counter-allegations and admitted facts that the valuable properties of the institutions, run by the Society, are being sold and have been sold, it would be appropriate that, as an interim measure, the affairs of the society may be directed to be looked after by the District Magistrate, Lucknow.
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The Court opined that the affairs of the educational institutions, particularly, run by the charitable/religious organizations, such as, the church and the society, should be conducted in a proper and transparent manner. The properties of the society should not be disposed of in the manner in which they have been disposed of in the past.
The Court, therefore, as an interim measure directed the District Magistrate, Lucknow to take over the charge of the society as Administrator to see that the affairs of the institutions run by the society are properly managed. “Let the order be communicated to the District Magistrate, Lucknow by Sanjay Mishra, Additional Chief Standing Counsel. The persons, who are at present managing the affairs of the society, shall hand over the charge to the District Magistrate, Lucknow forthwith. List this petition after four weeks, as prayed,” the order reads.