Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 1 of 4
CHARITABLE AND RELIGIOUS TRUSTS ACT, 1920
[14 of 1920]
An Act to provide more effectual control over the administration of Charitable and Religious
Trusts
Whereas it is expedient to provide facilities for the obtaining of information regarding trust
created for public purposes of a charitable or religious nature, and to enable the trustees of
such trusts to obtain the directions of a Court on certain matters, and to make special
provision for the payment of the expenditure incurred in certain suits against the trustees of
such trusts;
It is hereby enacted as follows: -
1. Short title and extent. (1) This Act may be called the Charitable and Religious Trusts
Acts, 1920.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir:
PROVIDED that the Government at any State may, be notification in the Official Gazette,
direct that this Act, or any specified part thereof, shall not extend to that State or any
specified area therein, or to any specified trust or class of trusts.
2. Interpretation. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
"the Court" means the Court of the District Judge or any other Court empowered in that
behalf by the State Government and includes the High Court in the exercise of its ordinary
original civil jurisdiction.
3. Power to apply to the Court in respect of trusts of a charitable or religious nature.
Save as hereinafter provided in this Act, any person having an interest in any express or
constructive trust created or existing for a public purpose of a charitable or religious nature
may apply by petition to the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction any
substantial part of the subject-matter of the trust is situate to obtain an order embodying all or
any of the following directions, namely:-
(1) directing the trustee to furnish the petitioner through the Court with particulars as to the
nature and objects of the trust, and of the value condition, management and application of the
subject-matter of the trust, and of the income belonging thereto, or as any of these matters,
and
(2) directing that the accounts of the trusts shall be examined and audited:
PROVIDED that no person shall apply for any such direction in respect of accounts
relating to a period more than three years prior to the date of the petition.
4. Contents and verification of petition. (1) The petition shall show in what way the
petitioner claims to be interested in the trust, and shall specify, as far as may be, the
particulars and the audit which he seeks to obtain.
(2) The petition shall be in writing and shall be signed and verified in the manner
prescribed by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for signing and verifying
plaints.
5. Procedure on petition. (1) If the court on receipt of a petition under section 3, after taking
such evidence and making such inquiry, if any, as it may consider necessary, is of opinion
Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 2 of 4
that the trust to which the petition relates is a trust to which this Act applies, and that the
petitioner has an interest therein, it shall fix a date for the hearing of the petition, and shall
cause a copy thereof, together with notice of the date so fixed, to be served on the trustee and
upon any other person to whom in its opinion notice of the petition should be given.
(2) On the date fixed for the hearing of the petition, or on any subsequent date to which the
hearing may be adjourned, the Court shall proceed to hear the petitioner and the trustee, if he
appears, and any other person who has appeared in consequence of the notice, or who it
considers ought to be heard, and shall make such further inquiries, if any, as it thinks fit. The
trustee may and, if so required by the court, shall at the time of the first hearing or within
such time as the Court may permit present a written statement of his case. If he does present a
written statement, the statement shall be signed and verified in the manner prescribed by the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for signing and verifying pleadings.
(3) If any person appears at the hearing of the petition and either denies the existence of the
trust or denies that it is a trust to which this Act applies, and undertakes to institute within
three months a suit for a declaration to that effect and for any other appropriate relief, the
court shall order a stay of the proceedings and, if such suit is so instituted, shall continue the
stay until the suit is finally decided.
(4) If no such undertaking is given, or if after the expiry of the three months no such suit
has been instituted, the Court shall itself decide the question.
(5) On completion of the inquiry provided for in sub-section (2), the Court shall either
dismiss the petition or pass thereon such other order as it thinks fit:
PROVIDED that, where a suit has been instituted in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(3), no order shall be passed by the Court which conflicts with the final decision
therein.
(6) Save as provided in this section, the Court shall not try or determine any question of
title between the petitioner and any person claiming title adversely to the trust.
6. Failure of trustee to comply with order under section 5. If a trustee without reasonable
excuse fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (5) of section 5, such trustee
shall, without prejudice to any other penalty or liability which he may incur under any law for
the time being in force, be deemed to have committed a breach of trust affording ground for a
suit under the provisions of section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), and
any such suit may, so far as it is based on such failure, be instituted without the previous
consent of the Advocate General.
7. Powers of trustee to apply for directions. (1) Save as hereinafter provided in this Act,
any trustee of an express or constructive trust created or existing for public purpose of a
charitable or religious nature may apply by petition to the Court, within the local limits of
whose jurisdiction any substantial part of the subject-matter of the trust is situate, for the
opinion, advise or direction of the Court on any question affecting the management or
administration of the trust property, and the Court shall give its opinion, advice or direction,
as the case may be, thereon:
PROVIDED that the Court shall not be bound to give such opinion, advice or direction on
any question which it considers to be a question not proper for summary disposal.
(2) The Court on a petition under sub-section (1), may either give its opinion, advice or
direction thereon forthwith, or fix a date for the hearing of the petition, and may direct a copy
thereof, together with notice of the date so fixed, to be served on such of the persons
interested in the trust, or to be published for information in such manner, as it thinks fit.
(3) On any date fixed under sub-section (2) or any subsequent date to which the hearing
may be adjourned, the Court, before giving any opinion, advice or direction, shall afford a
Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 3 of 4
reasonable opportunity of being heard to all persons appearing in connection with the
petition.
(4) A trustee stating in good faith the facts of any matter relating to the trust in a petition
under sub-section (1), and acting upon the opinion, advice or direction of the Court given
thereon, shall be deemed, as far as his own responsibility is concerned, to have discharged his
duty as such trustee in the matter in respect of which the petition was made.
8. Costs of petition under this Act. The costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to any
petition, and all proceedings in connection therewith, under the foregoing provisions of this
Act, shall be in the discretion of the Court, which may direct the whole or any part of any
such costs, charges and expenses to be met from the property or income of the trust in respect
of which the petition is made, or to be borne and paid in such manner and by such persons as
it thinks fit:
PROVIDED that no such order shall be made against any person (other than the
petitioner) who has not received notification of the petition and had a reasonable opportunity
of being heard thereon.
9. Saving. No petition under the foregoing provisions of this Act in relation to any trust shall
be entertained in any of the following circumstances, namely:-
(a) if a suit instituted in accordance with the provisions of section 92 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), is pending in respect of the trust in question;
(b) If the trust property is vested in the Treasurer of Charitable Endowments, the
Administrator-General, the Official Trustee, or any Society registered under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860); or
(c) if a scheme for the administration of the trust property has been settled or approved by
any Court of competent jurisdiction, or by any other authority acting under the provisions of
any enactment.
10. Power of Courts as to costs in certain suits against trustees of charitable and
religious trusts. (1) In any suit instituted under section l4 of the Religious Endowments Act,
1863, (20 of 1863) or under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), the
Court trying such suit may, if, on application of the plaintiff and after hearing the defendant
and making such inquiry as it thinks fit, it is satisfied that such an order is necessary in the
public interest, direct the defendant either to furnish security for any expenditure incurred or
likely to be incurred by the plaintiff in instituting and maintaining such suit, or to deposit
from any money in his hands as trustee of the trust to which the suit relates such sum as such
Court considers sufficient to meet such expenditure in whole or in part.
(2) When any money has been deposited in accordance with an order made under subsection
(1), the Court may make over to the plaintiff the whole or any part of such sum for the
conduct of the suit. Before making over any sum to the plaintiff, the Court shall take security
from the plaintiff for the refund of the same in the event of such refund being subsequently
ordered by the Court.
11. Provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure. (1) The provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to-
(a) the proof of facts by affidavit,
(b) the enforcing of the attendance of any person and his examination oath,
(c) the enforcing. of the production of documents, and
(d) the issuing of commissions,
Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 4 of 4
shall apply to all proceedings under this Act, and the provisions relating to the service of
summonses shall apply to the service of notice thereunder.
(2) The provisions of the said Code relating to the execution of decrees shall, so far as they
are applicable, apply to the execution of orders under this Act.
12. Barring of appeals. No appeal shall lie from any order passed or against any opinion,
advice or direction given under this Act.
Source: http://www.karmayog.org/library/libartdis.asp?r=152&libid=326
Download date: August 6, 2007
CHARITABLE AND RELIGIOUS TRUSTS ACT, 1920
[14 of 1920]
An Act to provide more effectual control over the administration of Charitable and Religious
Trusts
Whereas it is expedient to provide facilities for the obtaining of information regarding trust
created for public purposes of a charitable or religious nature, and to enable the trustees of
such trusts to obtain the directions of a Court on certain matters, and to make special
provision for the payment of the expenditure incurred in certain suits against the trustees of
such trusts;
It is hereby enacted as follows: -
1. Short title and extent. (1) This Act may be called the Charitable and Religious Trusts
Acts, 1920.
(2) It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir:
PROVIDED that the Government at any State may, be notification in the Official Gazette,
direct that this Act, or any specified part thereof, shall not extend to that State or any
specified area therein, or to any specified trust or class of trusts.
2. Interpretation. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,
"the Court" means the Court of the District Judge or any other Court empowered in that
behalf by the State Government and includes the High Court in the exercise of its ordinary
original civil jurisdiction.
3. Power to apply to the Court in respect of trusts of a charitable or religious nature.
Save as hereinafter provided in this Act, any person having an interest in any express or
constructive trust created or existing for a public purpose of a charitable or religious nature
may apply by petition to the Court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction any
substantial part of the subject-matter of the trust is situate to obtain an order embodying all or
any of the following directions, namely:-
(1) directing the trustee to furnish the petitioner through the Court with particulars as to the
nature and objects of the trust, and of the value condition, management and application of the
subject-matter of the trust, and of the income belonging thereto, or as any of these matters,
and
(2) directing that the accounts of the trusts shall be examined and audited:
PROVIDED that no person shall apply for any such direction in respect of accounts
relating to a period more than three years prior to the date of the petition.
4. Contents and verification of petition. (1) The petition shall show in what way the
petitioner claims to be interested in the trust, and shall specify, as far as may be, the
particulars and the audit which he seeks to obtain.
(2) The petition shall be in writing and shall be signed and verified in the manner
prescribed by the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for signing and verifying
plaints.
5. Procedure on petition. (1) If the court on receipt of a petition under section 3, after taking
such evidence and making such inquiry, if any, as it may consider necessary, is of opinion
Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 2 of 4
that the trust to which the petition relates is a trust to which this Act applies, and that the
petitioner has an interest therein, it shall fix a date for the hearing of the petition, and shall
cause a copy thereof, together with notice of the date so fixed, to be served on the trustee and
upon any other person to whom in its opinion notice of the petition should be given.
(2) On the date fixed for the hearing of the petition, or on any subsequent date to which the
hearing may be adjourned, the Court shall proceed to hear the petitioner and the trustee, if he
appears, and any other person who has appeared in consequence of the notice, or who it
considers ought to be heard, and shall make such further inquiries, if any, as it thinks fit. The
trustee may and, if so required by the court, shall at the time of the first hearing or within
such time as the Court may permit present a written statement of his case. If he does present a
written statement, the statement shall be signed and verified in the manner prescribed by the
Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), for signing and verifying pleadings.
(3) If any person appears at the hearing of the petition and either denies the existence of the
trust or denies that it is a trust to which this Act applies, and undertakes to institute within
three months a suit for a declaration to that effect and for any other appropriate relief, the
court shall order a stay of the proceedings and, if such suit is so instituted, shall continue the
stay until the suit is finally decided.
(4) If no such undertaking is given, or if after the expiry of the three months no such suit
has been instituted, the Court shall itself decide the question.
(5) On completion of the inquiry provided for in sub-section (2), the Court shall either
dismiss the petition or pass thereon such other order as it thinks fit:
PROVIDED that, where a suit has been instituted in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(3), no order shall be passed by the Court which conflicts with the final decision
therein.
(6) Save as provided in this section, the Court shall not try or determine any question of
title between the petitioner and any person claiming title adversely to the trust.
6. Failure of trustee to comply with order under section 5. If a trustee without reasonable
excuse fails to comply with an order made under sub-section (5) of section 5, such trustee
shall, without prejudice to any other penalty or liability which he may incur under any law for
the time being in force, be deemed to have committed a breach of trust affording ground for a
suit under the provisions of section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), and
any such suit may, so far as it is based on such failure, be instituted without the previous
consent of the Advocate General.
7. Powers of trustee to apply for directions. (1) Save as hereinafter provided in this Act,
any trustee of an express or constructive trust created or existing for public purpose of a
charitable or religious nature may apply by petition to the Court, within the local limits of
whose jurisdiction any substantial part of the subject-matter of the trust is situate, for the
opinion, advise or direction of the Court on any question affecting the management or
administration of the trust property, and the Court shall give its opinion, advice or direction,
as the case may be, thereon:
PROVIDED that the Court shall not be bound to give such opinion, advice or direction on
any question which it considers to be a question not proper for summary disposal.
(2) The Court on a petition under sub-section (1), may either give its opinion, advice or
direction thereon forthwith, or fix a date for the hearing of the petition, and may direct a copy
thereof, together with notice of the date so fixed, to be served on such of the persons
interested in the trust, or to be published for information in such manner, as it thinks fit.
(3) On any date fixed under sub-section (2) or any subsequent date to which the hearing
may be adjourned, the Court, before giving any opinion, advice or direction, shall afford a
Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 3 of 4
reasonable opportunity of being heard to all persons appearing in connection with the
petition.
(4) A trustee stating in good faith the facts of any matter relating to the trust in a petition
under sub-section (1), and acting upon the opinion, advice or direction of the Court given
thereon, shall be deemed, as far as his own responsibility is concerned, to have discharged his
duty as such trustee in the matter in respect of which the petition was made.
8. Costs of petition under this Act. The costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to any
petition, and all proceedings in connection therewith, under the foregoing provisions of this
Act, shall be in the discretion of the Court, which may direct the whole or any part of any
such costs, charges and expenses to be met from the property or income of the trust in respect
of which the petition is made, or to be borne and paid in such manner and by such persons as
it thinks fit:
PROVIDED that no such order shall be made against any person (other than the
petitioner) who has not received notification of the petition and had a reasonable opportunity
of being heard thereon.
9. Saving. No petition under the foregoing provisions of this Act in relation to any trust shall
be entertained in any of the following circumstances, namely:-
(a) if a suit instituted in accordance with the provisions of section 92 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), is pending in respect of the trust in question;
(b) If the trust property is vested in the Treasurer of Charitable Endowments, the
Administrator-General, the Official Trustee, or any Society registered under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860); or
(c) if a scheme for the administration of the trust property has been settled or approved by
any Court of competent jurisdiction, or by any other authority acting under the provisions of
any enactment.
10. Power of Courts as to costs in certain suits against trustees of charitable and
religious trusts. (1) In any suit instituted under section l4 of the Religious Endowments Act,
1863, (20 of 1863) or under section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), the
Court trying such suit may, if, on application of the plaintiff and after hearing the defendant
and making such inquiry as it thinks fit, it is satisfied that such an order is necessary in the
public interest, direct the defendant either to furnish security for any expenditure incurred or
likely to be incurred by the plaintiff in instituting and maintaining such suit, or to deposit
from any money in his hands as trustee of the trust to which the suit relates such sum as such
Court considers sufficient to meet such expenditure in whole or in part.
(2) When any money has been deposited in accordance with an order made under subsection
(1), the Court may make over to the plaintiff the whole or any part of such sum for the
conduct of the suit. Before making over any sum to the plaintiff, the Court shall take security
from the plaintiff for the refund of the same in the event of such refund being subsequently
ordered by the Court.
11. Provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure. (1) The provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), relating to-
(a) the proof of facts by affidavit,
(b) the enforcing of the attendance of any person and his examination oath,
(c) the enforcing. of the production of documents, and
(d) the issuing of commissions,
Collected by the All India Christian Council, www.christiancouncil.in Page 4 of 4
shall apply to all proceedings under this Act, and the provisions relating to the service of
summonses shall apply to the service of notice thereunder.
(2) The provisions of the said Code relating to the execution of decrees shall, so far as they
are applicable, apply to the execution of orders under this Act.
12. Barring of appeals. No appeal shall lie from any order passed or against any opinion,
advice or direction given under this Act.
Source: http://www.karmayog.org/library/libartdis.asp?r=152&libid=326
Download date: August 6, 2007
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