HC upholds retd judge's appointment as MGR Trust administrator

The Madras High Court today upheld the appointment of retired judge D Hariparanthaman as the administrator of a trust and its properties created by former Tamil Nadu chief minister M G Ramachandran.
A division bench, comprising justices Rajiv Shakdher and Abdul Quddhose, dismissed the pleas filed by Latha Rajendran and another person against the court order of appointing Hariparanthaman, a retired high court judge, as the administrator.
Justice M M Sundresh had, in an order in November last year, appointed justice (retd) Hariparanthaman as the administrator of the trust and properties after hearing pleas filed by relatives of M G Ramachandran, including Latha Rajendran.

The High Court, in its order today, said, "We are in agreement with the finding of the learned single judge that there is no consensus even among beneficiaries and there is also a strong objection for the appointment of Latha Rajendran as interim administrator."
"The single judge has employed his discretion, after considering all aspects of the matter. There is, according to us, no error of law and/or fact, which would have us to interdict the impugned judgment," it said.
"We are of the view that no useful purpose will be served if one of the parties to the dispute is appointed as an interim administrator. It will only lead to further litigation and multiplicity of proceedings," the HC order said.

Hence, it is in the interest of all the parties to the dispute as well as beneficiaries and to safeguard the laudable objects of the testator late M G Ramachandran under his will that a court appointed administrator administers and manages the affairs of the estate and the trust, it said.

The HC said, "Admittedly, there are allegations and counter allegations between the parties to the dispute some of which are serious in nature. There is no consensus for appointment of a common administrator among the parties."
The noble and laudable objects of the trust, which includes establishment and administration of a deaf and dumb school must be safeguarded, the HC said.

As the estate is huge and generating sufficient income, the monthly remuneration of Rs one lakh fixed for the administrator is reasonable, it said.