High Court · 2025

W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURTDATED : 04.07.2025CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANANW.P(MD) No.18234 of 2025andW.M.P(MD) No.14007 of 2025Sureshkumar V ... PetitionerVs.1.The Inspector General of Registration, Office of the Inspector General of Registration, Chennai.2.The District Registrar, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District. ...RespondentsPrayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying this Court to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the records of the impugned order in Se.Mu.Aa.No.12526/I2/2025, dated 13.06.2025 on the file of the first respondent and quash the same and further directing the first respondent to take appropriate actions on the representation given by the petitioner dated 05.03.2025 within the time limit as may be stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner : Mr.K.Jeyamohan______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 1 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025For Respondents: Mr.D.Sasikumar, Additional Government Pleader.*****O R D E RThe petitioner is before this Court challenging the impugned order passed by the first respondent in his proceedings, dated 13.06.2025 bearing reference Se.Mu.Aa.No.12526/I2/2025. 2. By the impugned order, the request of the petitioner vide representations dated 05.03.2025, 11.03.2025 and 14.05.2025 to take action against the second respondent for alleged dereliction of duty purportedly by accepting Form VII has been rejected. 3. The operative portion of the impugned order, dated 13.06.2025 reads as under:“Nkw;fz;ltw;wpd; mbg;gilapy;> khtl;lg;gjpthsuhy; gbtk; VII Nfhu;itf;F Vw;fg;gl;l nray; jkpo;ehL rq;fq;fs; gjpT tpjpfs;> 1978 tpjp 50-d; gb KiwahdjhfNt cs;sJ. NkYk;> nrd;id cau;ePjpkd;w tof;F vz;.W.A.No.1333 of 2007-,y; 20.12.2007 md;W toq;fg;gl;Ls;s ePjpkd;w Mizapy; Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;s fPo;fz;lthwhd jPu;g;G ,q;F ftdpf;fj;jf;fjhf cs;sJ.______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 2 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025“In any event, the filling of Form No.VII is only a consequential action to an election purportedly conducted. The acceptance of such a Form by the Registrar would neither affix a seal of approval on the validity of the election nor would the rejection of Form No. VII by the Registrar, invalidate an election properly conducted. Therefore, a person, who is aggrieved by an election, should only go before a Civil Court challenging the election. A person aggrieved by an election cannot challenge the acceptance or rejection of Form No. VII by the Registrar as a short cut to invalidate an election".b) rq;fj;jpd; Jiztpjp jpUj;jq;fs; rpwg;G jPu;khdkhf nfhz;L tug;gl;L xg;Gjy; ngwhky; rhjhuz nghJf;FOtpy; jpUj;jg;gl;Ls;sjhf njuptpf;fg;gl;Ls;sJ. ,j;jpUj;jkhdJ 18.08.2016-y; khtl;lg;gjpthsuhy; 04/2016 vd;w tupir vz;zhf Jiztpjp jpUj;jk; gjpT nra;ag;gl;Ls;sJ vd;gjhd Gfhu; njhlu;ghf fPo;fz;lthW KbT nra;ag;gLfpwJ:-rq;fj;jpduhy; Nfhu;itf;F jhf;fy; nra;ag;gLk; ve;jnthU Mtzq;fSk;> jkpo;ehL rq;fg;gjpT tpjpfs;> 1978 tpjp 50-d; gb guprPypf;fg;gl;L Nfhu;itf;F Vw;fg;glNtz;Lk;. ,e;Neu;tpy; rq;fj;Jiztpjp jpUj;jk; Nfhu;itf;F Vw;fg;gl;Ls;sJ; jkpo;ehL rq;fq;fs; gjpT rl;lk;> 1975 gpupT 45(3)-y. “Save as expressly provided in this Act, orders made under this Act shall be final and conclusive". vdj; njuptpf;fg;gl;Ls;sjhy;> JiztpjpjpUj;jj;jpid rq;fg;gjpthsu; Nfhu;itf;F Vw;w nray; kPJ kDjhuuUf;F mjpUg;jp ,Ug;gpd; cupa cupikapay; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; gupfhuk; Njbf;nfhs;syhk; vd kDjhuUf;F njuptpf;fg;gLfpwJ.c) rq;fj;jpduhy; 5 Mz;LfSf;F Nky; Nfhu;itf;F jhf;fy; nra;ag;glhjJ Fwpj;J jkpo;ehL rq;fq;fs; gjpT rl;lk;. 1975 gpupT 44(3)(b)-d; fPo; rl;lg;G+u;t eltbf;if Nkw;nfhs;sg;gltpy;iy vd;w Gfhu; njhlu;ghf fPo;fz;lthW KbT nra;ag;gLfpwJ:-______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 3 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025jkpo;ehL rq;fq;fs; gjpT rl;lk;> 1975 gpupT 44-d; gb gjpT nra;ag;gl;l xU rq;fkhdJ nray;ghl;by; ,y;iy vdf; fUjpdhNyh my;yJ %d;whz;LfSf;F Nky; Nfhu;itf;F jhf;fy; nra;ag;glhj epfo;tpy;> mr;rq;fj;jpw;F fhuzk; Nfl;Fk; Fwpg;ghiz mDg;gp mr;rq;fk; nray;ghl;by; ,y;iy vd;gJ cWjpahdhy; mjd; mbg;gilapy;> ,r;rl;lg;gpuptpd; cl;gpupT 4-d; gb gpu];jhg rq;fj;jpd; ngaiu rq;fg;gjpNtl;by; ,Ue;J ePf;fk; nra;a toptif cs;sJ. ,t;tof;fpyhd nghWj;j tiu njhlu;e;J gy;NtW tof;Ffs; rq;fj;jpdUf;fpilNa ele;J tUtjhy;> rq;fk; nray;ghl;by; cs;sJ rq;fj;ij vd;gjw;fhd; Kfhe;jpuk; cs;s epiyapy;> kDjhuupd; ,g;Gfhu; epiyf;fjf;fjhf ,y;iy.d) NkYk;> gs;spf;fy;tpj;Jiw mYtyuhy; gpwg;gpf;fg;gl;l nray;Kiw Mizapd; kPJ kDjhuUf;F mjpUg;jp ,Ug;gpd; mJ Fwpj;J rk;ke;jg;gl;l Jiwapy; cupa KiwaPL nra;J nfhs;syhk; vd njuptpf;fg;gLfpwJ.”4. The impugned order suggests the petitioner to work out remedy before the appropriate Civil Court. It further concludes that although Section 44(4) of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, empowers the authority to cancel the registration of societies that are not in operation, the existence of several litigations concerning the said society indicates that it is active.5. The case of the petitioner is that the second respondent committed a dereliction of duty by purportedly accepting Form VII in violation of the ______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 4 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025Circular No.3/2022 dated 27.05.2022 bearing reference Ka.No.8413/I2/2013 issued by the first respondent. The guidelines issued in Circular No.3/2022 dated 27.05.2022 bearing reference Ka.No.8413/I2/2013 issued by the first respondent are reproduced below:“4. ePjpkd;wq;fspy; rq;f epu;thff;FO Nju;jy; njhlu;gila gbtk; VII - I Nfhu;it nra;tijj; jtpu gpw tof;Ffs; epYitapy; ,Uf;Fk; epiyapy; jkpo;ehL rq;fq;fs; gjpTr; rl;lk; 1975 d; gpupT 16(3)(gp) ,d; fPo; jhf;fy; nra;aNtz;ba rl;lg;g+u;t gbtq;fs; / gjptUf;fs; kw;Wk; jkpo;ehL rq;fq;fs; gjpTr; rl;lk; 1975 d; gy;NtW gpupTfs; kw;Wk; mjd; tpjpfspd; fPo; khtl;lg;gjpthsuplk; gbtq;fs; / gjpTUf;fs; Mz;lwpf;iffs; jhf;fy; nra;ag;gl;lhy; mt;thW jhf;fy; nra;ag;gl;l Mz;lwpf;iffis Vw;gjw;F ePjpkd;wj;jhy; khtl;lg;gjpthsUf;F jil cj;juTfs; / ,ilf;fhyj; jil cj;juTfs; VJk; ,y;iy vd;gij cWjp nra;J nfhz;L khtl;lg;gjpthsu; Nkw;fz;l Nfhu;itfis Vw;fyhk;.5. Rw;wwpf;if vz;.7/2011 ehs; 27.07.2011 (vz;.34579/I1/2011 ehs; 27.07.2011) %yk; mwpTWj;jg;gl;l Nfhupf;if njhlu;ghd topfhl;Ljy;fs; ,e;j Rw;wwpf;if %yk; NkNy nrhy;ygl;lthW khw;wpaikf;fg;gl;Ls;sd.”6. By the aforesaid Circular No.3/2022 dated 27.05.2022 bearing reference Ka.No.8413/I2/2013, the guidelines issued in earlier Circular No.7 of 2011 dated 27.07.2011 bearing reference Na.Ka.No. 34579/I1/2011 were modified. ______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 5 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 20257. As per Circular No.3/2022 dated 27.05.2022 bearing reference Ka.No.8413/I2/2013, in cases where disputes are pending, the Registrar may accept all annual returns, forms, and records required to be filed under Section 16 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, except Form VII relating to the election of the Administrative Committee of the Society, subject to ascertaining that there is no injunction or interim order issued by any Court restraining the Registrar from proceeding further. 8. I have considered the arguments advanced by the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Pleader for the respondents.9. There is a long history of power struggles within the Kovilpatti Naadar Uravinmurai Sangam, a society registered under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975.10. An election is said to have taken place in the year 2022. The matter ultimately reached the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Civil Appeal Nos.6264 - 6267 of 2024 in the case of Kovilpatti Nadar Uravinmurai Sangam Etc., Vs. ______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 6 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025K.A.Velumani and others, etc. The Hon’ble Supreme Court after considering the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and bye-laws of the said Society in its order dated 05.09.2024 held as under:“13. One fact which also needs to be underlined is the dispute raised at the hands of the present respondents regarding the rejection of nomination of 46 members. We make it absolutely clear that after the conclusion of the elections, the remedy, if any, open to the Respondents is to challenge the process or the results of the election through election petition/civil suit where this can always be a ground available. In case, such an election petition/civil suit is filed, we hope that there would be an expeditious disposal of such a petition/suit, preferably within one year.14. We hereby set aside the impugned order dated 03.11.2023 and present appeals stand disposed of in above terms along with pending applications, if any.”11. Two suits are stated to be pending before the District Munsif Court, Kovilpatti, in O.S.Nos.142 and 151 of 2024. The election that was held became the subject matter of the orders passed by the Court, and eventually, by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the above-mentioned case. 12. Circular No.3/2022 dated 27.05.2022 bearing reference Ka.No.8413/I2/2013 was issued by the first respondent before the order was passed by ______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 7 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025the Hon'ble Supreme Court, in the above-mentioned case. Therefore, no fault can be attributed on the second respondent for having accepted Form VII and other forms of the said society. 13. Only if an interim order is secured from the competent Court, there would be an embargo on accepting Form VII under Rule 17 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Rules. Mere filing of a suit, by itself, would not ipso facto constitute a bar to accept Form VII.14. If Form VII is to be declined only on account of the mere pendency of a suit, the rights of a duly elected body would be severely compromised at the instance of a disgruntled member who has lost the election. 15. To hold otherwise, would imply an automatic stay, which is neither the intention of the Act nor is consistent with the object and purpose sought to be achieved through the Rules.16. Therefore, I am of the view that the rejection of the request of the petitioner in his representations for taking action against the second respondent, does not warrant any interference.______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 8 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 202517. Hence, the Writ Petition is liable to be dismissed and accordingly dismissed. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. No costs. 04.07.2025NCC : Yes / NoIndex : Yes / NoInternet : Yes / NoIndu/JenTo1.The Inspector General of Registration, Office of the Inspector General of Registration, Chennai.2.The District Registrar, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli District.______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 9 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025C.SARAVANAN, J. Indu/JenW.P(MD).No.18234 of 2025 04.07.2025______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 10 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025 https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis W.P.(MD).No.18234 of 2025______________ corrected and re-uploaded the orderPage No. 11 of 11 pursuant to the interim order 28.07.2025