Ch. MERAJUDDIN vs JOINT SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT OF THE PUNJAB
This matter arises from a petition for leave to appeal directed against the dismissal of the petitioner's writ petition by the High Court. The underlying dispute relates to a finding by the Co-operative Authorities that the petitioner was a member of a specific Co-operative Society concerning films, which the petitioner challenged unsuccessfully in the High Court's writ jurisdiction. The core legal question involves the sustainability of concurrent findings of fact rendered by departmental authorities and affirmed by the High Court regarding cooperative society membership. The Supreme Court held that the impugned judgment of the High Court suffers from no infirmity, as the conclusions were firmly based on relevant contemporaneous documents including committee resolutions, general meeting resolutions, and ledger entries demonstrating payment of the membership fee. Consequently, the Court found no justification for interference and refused leave to appeal, laying down the principle that concurrent findings of fact supported by documentary evidence will not be disturbed by the apex court in the absence of material dislodging such findings.
- Whether findings of fact rendered by departmental authorities and affirmed by the High Court can be interfered with without dislodging them through relevant documents?
- Does the Supreme Court grant leave to appeal against concurrent factual findings supported by resolutions and ledger entries?
ORDER
1. ' MUHAMMAD AFZAL ZULLAH, J.--Leave to appeal has been sought, against the dismissal by the High Court of petitioners Writ Petition. It had arisen out of dispute relating to and finding by the respondents (Co-operative Authorities) to the effect that the petitioner was a member of the Co- operative Society concerned relating to films. He challenged this finding and the consequences flowing therefrom in the High Court in its writ jurisdiction but without any success. Leave to appeal has now therefore been sought.
2. Learned counsel has tried to seek reversal of the findings of fact rendered against the petitioner by the departmental authorities and affirmed by the High Court in the impugned judgment. After hearing him, at some length, we feel satisfied that the impugned judgment of the High Court does not suffer from any infirmity. It is pertinent to note that the learned counsel has not been able to dislodge the finding by making reference to the relevant documents. The conclusions by the High Court are based, inter alia, on; resolution No,8, dated 12-4-1954 passed by the Managing Committee of the Society; and, resolution No,2 passed in the general meeting on 24-4-1954; as also the entry, dated 4-5-1954 in the ledger, showing that the petitioner had also paid membership fee of Rs,100. We accordingly find no justification for interference. Leave to appeal, therefore, is refused.