In Commissioner Of Income Tax v. Chhabil Das Agarwal [(2014) 1 Scc 603] The Apex Court Held That Non

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K. NARENDRAN & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE G. GIRISH THURSDAY, THE 14 DAY OF MARCH 2024/24TH PHALGUNA, 1945 WP(C) NO.9823 OF 2024 PETITIONERS: 1MAHANUDEEN AGED 59 YEARS, S/O. ABDUL KADERKUNJU, KARAYIL KIZHAKKATHIL, PINAKKAL, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020 2MOHAMMED SHARRIF AGED 51 YEARS, S/O. ABDUL RASHEED, AMARIYAZHIKATHU VEETTIL, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020AGED 51 YEARS, S/O. ABDUL RASHEED, AMARIYAZHIKATHU VEETTIL, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020 BY ADVS. P.MOHANDAS (ERNAKULAM) K. SUDHINKUMAR SABU PULLAN GOKUL D. SUDHAKARAN R.BHASKARA KRISHNAN BHARATH MOHAN K.P.SATHEESAN (SR.) RESPONDENTS: 1THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH COMMITTEE, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN 691 020ATH COMMITTEE, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN 691 020 2THE PRESIDENT THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH COMMITTEE, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH COMMITTEE, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020 3THE SECRETARY THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH COMMITTEE, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH COMMITTEE, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020 4THE TREASURER THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020 THATTAMALA MUSLIM JAMA-ATH COMMITTEE, 5BADHARUDEEN AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. MEERA SAHIB, RIYAD MANZIL, PARAKULAM, KOTTIYAM P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 571 6THAJUDHEEN AGED 62 YEARS, S/O. ABDUL KAREEM, FATHIMA MANZIL, UMAYANALLOOR P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 589 7BADHARUDHEEN UMAYANALLOOR P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 589 AGED 70 YEARS, S/O. ABOOBACKER, MYLAPPORE, MENAMKUDY, 8SHAHARUDHEEN AGED 60 YEARS, S/O. MUHAMMED KUNJU, THENGINAZHIKATH VEEDU, THATTAMALA P.O., KOLLAM, PIN – 691 020 9KERALA STATE WAQF BOARD REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, VIP ROAD, KALOOR, KOCHI, PIN – 682 017 THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 14.03.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Anil K. Narendran, J. JUDGMENT The petitioners, who are the members of Thattamala Muslim Jama-ath in Kollam District, have filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of certiorari to set aside Ext.P3 order dated 05.03.2024 of the Kerala State Waqf Board in I.A.No.76 of 2024 in O.P.No.162 of 2023 and for other consequential reliefs. 2. Ext.P3 order of the State Waqf Board dated 05.03.2024 reads thus: “Heard both the parties in detail. Respondents in IA (petitioners in OP) are hereby restrained from causing obstructions in carrying painting works in the Jama-ath and conducting “Aanadanam” during moth of Ramazan by the Jama-ath committee.” 3. Heard the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners and the learned Standing Counsel for Kerala State Waqf Board for the 9[th] respondent. 4. The learned Standing Counsel for the State Waqf Board would point out the statutory remedy available to the petitioners against Ext.P3 order by invoking the provisions under Section 83(2) of the Waqf Act, 1995. 5. In Commissioner of Income Tax v. Chhabil Das Agarwal [(2014) 1 SCC 603] the Apex Court held that non- 2. Ext.P3 order of the State Waqf Board dated 05.03.2024 reads thus: “Heard both the parties in detail. Respondents in IA (petitioners in OP) are hereby restrained from causing obstructions in carrying painting works in the Jama-ath and conducting “Aanadanam” during moth of Ramazan by the Jama-ath committee.” 3. Heard the learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners and the learned Standing Counsel for Kerala State Waqf Board for the 9[th] respondent. 4. The learned Standing Counsel for the State Waqf Board would point out the statutory remedy available to the petitioners against Ext.P3 order by invoking the provisions under Section 83(2) of the Waqf Act, 1995. 5. In Commissioner of Income Tax v. Chhabil Das Agarwal [(2014) 1 SCC 603] the Apex Court held that non- entertainment of a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India when an efficacious alternative remedy is available is a rule and self-imposed limitation. It is essentially a rule of policy, convenience and discretion rather than a rule of law. Undoubtedly, it is within the discretion of the High Court to grant relief under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, despite the existence of alternative remedy. However, High Court must not interfere if there is an adequate efficacious alternative remedy available to the petitioner and he has approached the High Court without availing the same, unless he has made out an exceptional case warranting such interference or there exists sufficient ground to invoke the extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226. 6. In Authorised Officer, State Bank of Travancore v. Mathew K.C. [(2018) 3 SCC 85] the Apex Court reiterated that the discretionary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India is not absolute but has to be exercised judiciously in the given facts of a case and in accordance with law. The normal rule is that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India ought not to be entertained if alternative statutory remedies are available, except in cases falling within the well-defined exceptions as observed in Chaabil Das Agarwal [(2014) 1 SCC 603], i.e., where the statutory authority has not acted in accordance with the provisions of the enactment in question or in defiance of the fundamental principles of judicial procedure or has resorted to invoke the provisions which are repealed, or when an order has been passed in total violation of the principles of natural justice. After referring to the law laid down in Thansingh Nathmal v. Superintendent of Taxes and Titaghur Paper Mills Company Ltd. v. State of Orissa [(1983) 2 SCC 433] the Apex Court held that the High Court will not entertain a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution if an effective alternative remedy is available to the aggrieved person or the statute under which the action complained of contains a mechanism for redressal of grievance. Therefore, when a statutory forum is created by law for redressal of grievances, a writ petition should not be entertained ignoring the statutory dispensation. 7. In Thansingh Nathmal a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court held that the jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution is couched in wide terms and the exercise thereof is not subject to any restrictions except the territorial restrictions which are expressly 7. In Thansingh Nathmal a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court held that the jurisdiction of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution is couched in wide terms and the exercise thereof is not subject to any restrictions except the territorial restrictions which are expressly provided in the Article. But the exercise of the jurisdiction is discretionary: it is not exercised merely because it is lawful to do so. The very amplitude of the jurisdiction demands that it will ordinarily be exercised subject to certain self-imposed limitations. Resort to that jurisdiction is not intended as an alternative remedy for relief which may be obtained in a suit or other mode prescribed by statute. Ordinarily, the Court will not entertain a petition for a writ under Article 226, where the petitioner has an alternative remedy, which without being unduly onerous, provides an equally efficacious remedy. Again the High Court does not generally enter upon a determination of questions which demand an elaborate examination of evidence to establish the right to enforce for which the writ is claimed. The High Court does not, therefore, act as a Court of appeal against the decision of a Court or tribunal, to correct errors of fact, and does not by assuming jurisdiction under Article 226 trench upon an alternative remedy provided by statute for obtaining relief. Where it is open to the aggrieved petitioner to move another tribunal or even itself in another jurisdiction for obtaining redress in the manner provided by a statute, the High Court normally will not permit by entertaining a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution the machinery created under the statute to be bypassed and will leave the party applying to it to seek resort to the machinery so set up. 8. In Titaghur Paper Mill [(1983) 2 SCC 433] a Three-Judge Bench of the Apex Court held that the Orissa Sales Tax Act, 1947 provides for a complete machinery to challenge an order of assessment, and the impugned orders of assessment can only be challenged by the mode prescribed by the Act and not by a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. It is now well recognised that where a right or liability is created by a statute which gives a special remedy for enforcing it, the remedy provided by that statute only must be availed of. This rule was stated with great clarity by Willes, J. in Wolverhampton New Water Works Co. v. Hawkesford [(1859) 6 CBNS 336] at page 356 in the following passage: "There are three classes of cases in which a liability may be established founded upon statute ... But there is a third class, viz., where a liability not existing at common law is created by a statute which at the same time gives a special and particular remedy for enforcing it ... the remedy provided by the statute must be followed, and it is not competent to the party to pursue the course applicable to cases of the second class. The form given by the statute must be adopted and adhered to." The rule laid down in that passage was approved by the House of Lords in Neville v. London Express Newspaper Ltd. [1919 AC 368] and has been reaffirmed by the Privy Council in Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago v. Gordon Grant and Co. [1935 AC 532] and Secretary of State v. Mask and Co. . It has also been held to be equally applicable to enforcement of rights and has been followed by the Apex Court throughout. The rule laid down in that passage was approved by the House of Lords in Neville v. London Express Newspaper Ltd. [1919 AC 368] and has been reaffirmed by the Privy Council in Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago v. Gordon Grant and Co. [1935 AC 532] and Secretary of State v. Mask and Co. . It has also been held to be equally applicable to enforcement of rights and has been followed by the Apex Court throughout. 9. In Balkrishna Ram v. Union of India [(2020) 2 SCC 442] one of the issues raised before the Apex Court was whether an appeal against an order of a single judge of a High Court deciding a case related to an Armed Forces personnel pending before the High Court is required to be transferred to the Armed Forces Tribunal or should be heard by the High Court. The Apex Court held that sub-section (1) of Section 14 of the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 clearly provides that the Armed Forces Tribunal will exercise powers of all Courts except the Supreme Court or High Court exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 and Article 227 of the Constitution of India. Section 34 is very carefully worded. It states that 'every suit', or 'other proceedings' pending before any Court including a High Court immediately before the establishment of the Tribunal shall stand transferred on that day to the Tribunal. The Legislature has clearly not vested the Armed Forces Tribunal with the power and jurisdiction of the High Court to be exercised under Article 226 of the Constitution. There can be no manner of doubt that the High Court can exercise its writ jurisdiction even in respect of orders passed by the Armed Forces Tribunal. Since an appeal lies to the Supreme Court against an order of the Armed Forces Tribunal, the High Court may not exercise their extraordinary writ jurisdiction because there is an efficacious alternative remedy available but that does not mean that the jurisdiction of the High Court is taken away. In a given circumstance, the High Court may and can exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction even against the orders of the High Court [sic: Armed Forces Tribunal]. 10. In Balkrishna Ram[(2020) 2 SCC 442] the Apex Court held that the principle that the High Court should not exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction when an efficacious alternative remedy is available, is a rule of prudence and not a rule of law. The Writ Courts normally refrain from exercising their extraordinary power if the petitioner has an alternative efficacious remedy. The existence of such remedy however does not mean that the jurisdiction of the High Court is ousted. At the same time, it is a well settled principle that such jurisdiction should not be exercised when there is an alternative remedy available - Union of India v. T.R. Varma . The rule of alternative remedy is a rule of discretion and not a rule of jurisdiction. Merely because the Court may not exercise its discretion, is not a ground to hold that it has no jurisdiction. There may be cases where the High Court would be justified in exercising its writ jurisdiction because of some glaring illegality committed by the Armed Forces Tribunal. One must also remember that the alternative remedy must be efficacious and in case of a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), or a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO); to expect such a person to approach the Supreme Court in every case may not be justified. It is extremely difficult and beyond the monetary reach of an ordinary litigant to approach the Supreme Court. Therefore, it will be for the High Court to decide in the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case whether it should exercise its extraordinary writ jurisdiction or not. There cannot be a blanket ban on the exercise of such jurisdiction because that would effectively mean that the Writ Court is denuded of its jurisdiction to entertain such writ petitions which is not the law laid down in L. Chandra Kumar v. Union of India [(1997) 3 SCC 262]. 11. Viewed in the light of the law laid down in the decisions referred to supra, we find no reason to entertain this writ petition, on the ground of maintainability. Accordingly, this writ petition is dismissed as not maintainable; however, without prejudice to the right of the petitioners to avail the statutory remedy against Ext.P3 order by approaching the Waqf Tribunal. Sd/- ANIL K. NARENDRAN, JUDGE Sd/- G. GIRISH, JUDGE ded APPENDIX OF WP(C)9823/2024 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 TRUE COPY OF THE PETITION FILED BY THE PETITIONERS BEFORE THE KERALA STATE WAKF BOARD AS O.P.NO. 162/2023 DATED 18-07-2023 Exhibit P2 TRUE COPY OF THE I.A.NO. 76/2024 IN O.P.NO. 162/2023 FILED BY ADDITIONAL RESPONDENTS 5 TO 8 Exhibit P3 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED 5-3-2024 IN I.A.NO. 76/2024 IN O.P.NO. 162/2023 PASSED BY THE KERALA STATE WAKF BOARD, 9TH RESPONDENT