NCLT Prayagraj also suspended powers of Board of Directors
Prayagraj: The Allahabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has appointed former Uttarakhand High Court Justice Lokpal Singh as an independent administrator for a period of one year to resolve the management dispute involving the Lucknow Diocesan Trust Association. The powers of the board of directors of all rival factions have also been suspended with immediate effect. The tribunal passed this order on September 16, 2026.
The Trust was established on August 9, 1924, as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act, 1913. Its purpose was to carry on the religious, charitable, and institutional work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Lucknow. For several years, there has been a dispute between various groups, including John Augustine, Swapna Augustine, and Vijay Kumar Robinson, regarding the legitimate management and representation of the Trust. According to the Registrar of Companies, Kanpur, dated May 11, 2026, the Trust’s last balance sheet was filed in 2008, and its last annual return was filed in 2011. Since July 2, 2012, the company has been flagged as having a “management dispute” on the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) portal, preventing any new filings.
The Tribunal issued this order exercising its powers under Section 242(4) of the Companies Act, 2013. The Tribunal stated that the status quo order of January 23, 2018, will remain in effect. There will be a complete moratorium on the sale, transfer, or mortgage of any Trust property without the Tribunal’s permission. The Administrator will operate all bank accounts and complete pending statutory filings. He or she will be required to submit a comprehensive report on the membership status to the Tribunal within two months and within three months. All parties will be required to cooperate fully with the Administrator. The Tribunal clarified that this appointment is not a final decision on any faction’s claim, but an interim arrangement to protect the Trust’s assets and operations until the dispute is resolved. The next hearing in this matter will be on September 24, 2026.
