The Law of Trust - Page 341

320 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES

IV. P UBLIC T RUSTS AND P RIVATE, RELIGIOUS OR CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS .

Trusts are either Public or Private Trusts.

I. Public Trusts. —A trust is a Public Trust when it is constituted for the benefit either of the public at large or some considerable portion of it answering a particular description. A Public Trust is for an unascertained body of people though capable of ascertainment.

II. Private Trust. —A Private Trust is a trust created only for the benefit of certain individuals who must be ascertained or ascertainable within a limited time.

III. The Purposes of a Public Trust. —They fall under three heads:—

(i) Public purposes.

(ii) Charitable purposes.

(iii) Religious purposes.

(1) The phrase public purposes is used in two senses :

(a) In its ordinary sense—it includes purposes. Such as mending or repairing of roads, a parish supplying water for the inhabitants of a parish, making or repairing of bridges over any stream or culvert that may be required in a parish.

(2) The Phrase Charitable Purposes—includes almsgiving, building alms-houses, founding hospitals and the like.

(3) The Phrase Religious Purpose—includes relating to religious teaching or worship—purchase or distribution of religious books, upkeep of Churches, Temples, etc.

If a Trust is a Public Trust—The Trust Act does not apply.

If a Trust is a Private Trust—Does the Trust Act apply ?

The Act applies only if the Private Trust is a trust which is not a Charitable or Religious Trust.

What is the Law that applies to a Public Trust or a Private Trust which is Charitable and Religious ? There are various enactments which apply.

  1. Section 92, C. P. C.

  2. The Religious Endowments Act, 1863.