The Registrar Societies And Firms Gnctd v. Indian Council For Child Welfare Anon Govermnental Voluntary
$~34 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CONT.CAS(C) 1977/2024 & CM APPL. 73341/2024 THE REGISTRAR SOCIETIES AND FIRMS GNCTD .....Petitioner Through:
Mr. Prashant Manchanda, ASC with Ms. Nancy Shah, Ms. Isha Balooni, Mr. Rajneesh Sharma, Advocates and Mr. Raj Singh for Petitioner.
versus INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CHILD WELFARE ANON GOVERMNENTAL VOLUNTARY .....Respondent Through:
Mr. Sanjay Ghosh, Senior Advocate with Mr. Sumeet Lall, Mr. Sidhant Kapoor and Mr. Junaid Aamir, Advocates.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA
O R D E R
% 13.12.2024 1.
The present petition alleges that the Respondents have committed wilful contempt and disobedience of the order dated 22nd December, 2023 passed in WP(C) 16666/2023.
2.
Mr. Prashant Manchanda, ASC for Petitioner, submits that under the aforenoted order, Respondent No. 1 had specifically undertaken that that they will delete the term "National" from the bravery award conferred by Respondent No.1. On this expressed undertaking, the Court had restrained the Petitioner from taking any coercive action against the Respondent organisation.
CONT.CAS(C) 1977/2024 Page 1 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
3.
Mr. Manchanda submits that the aforenoted undertaking has been violated by the Respondent Organisation who have now issued award notifications and nomination form wherein the term 'national' has been used in clear breach of the undertaking submitted to the Court. To support this contention, Mr. Manchanda places reliance on the notification for "Bravery Awards for the Children and Youth (2024)" issued by the Respondent Organisation wherein the nomination form uses the term 'national' it's title to the following effect:
"NOMINATION FORM FOR ICCW NATIONAL AWARDS FOR BRAVERY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (2024)"
4.
Mr. Sanjay Ghosh, Senior Counsel for Respondents, on the other hand clarifies that there was no intention to breach any undertaking given to the Court. He submits that the title of the nomination form issued by the Punjab State Council was only an inadvertent oversight on their part. He submits that in fact the notification and the form itself cited by Petitioner makes it clear that Respondents are not claiming any patronage of the national awards. The notification itself specifies that "In 2023, the ICCW National Bravery Awards were renamed as ICCW Bravery Awards for Children & Youth." Even in the undertaking to be filled by the recommending authorities, the form specifies as "f) I recommend _____________ for consideration for the ICCW's Bravery Award 2024." 5.
Nonetheless, to allay the apprehensions of Petitioner, on 18th November, 2024, Child Welfare Council, Punjab has already issued a corrigendum to the following effect:
"CORRIGENDUM Please refer to our earlier letter no. PCWC/2024-25/407 - 453, CONT.CAS(C) 1977/2024 Page 2 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
dated 13-08-2024.
The name of the Award has been inadvertenly mentioned as "National Bravery Award for Children & Youth - 2024" which is a typing mistake. This may please be read as "ICCW Bravery Award for Children & Youth - 2024"."
6.
Subsequently, on 20th November, 2024, the Respondent organisation has also circulated necessary instructions to all the state councils. The same reads as follows:
"Dear Colleague, It has earlier been informed to you that the word "National" has been deleted from the Awards for Bravery. This was clearly stated in the Award Scheme & Form circulated to the State Councils vide letter No. ICCW/BA/APPLS/2024/593 dated 30.07.2024.
It has been brought to our attention that some of the State Councils have used the word "National" while circulating the scheme. Please take immediate action to send a Corrigendum to your District Councils where the word "National" has been used. It is reiterated once again that the word "National" does not form part of the Award name.
For strict compliance.
With regards"
7.
In view of the foregoing, since the Respondent Organisation has proactively taken steps to ensure that there is no breach of the undertaking given to the Court, the present contempt proceedings are closed. 8.
The present petition is disposed of, along with pending application. SANJEEV NARULA, J DECEMBER 13, 2024 d.negi ` CONT.CAS(C) 1977/2024 Page 3 of 3 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.