The High Court
Case Details
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI (Civil Writ Jurisdiction) W.P. (C) No.5554 of 2021 ---- Patel Seva Sangh (A Society Registered Under the Society Registration Act, 1860) through its Chief Election Officer Ram Nihor Singh …. …. Petitioner Versus 1. The State of Jharkhand through the Secretary, Co-operative Society, Government of Jharkhand, Project Building, Dhurwa, Ranchi. 2. Deputy Commissioner, Bokaro. 3. Sub-Divisional Officer, Chas, Bokaro. 4. Nawal Kishore Prasad, General Secretary, Patel Sewa Sangh, Bokaro. …. …. Respondents
Legal Reasoning
---- CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH KUMAR ---- For the Petitioner For the Respondents For the Intervener 08/Dated: 06th May, 2024 : Mr. Deepak Kumar, Adv. : Mr. Shubham Gautam, A.C. to A.A.G.-V Mr. Saurav Arun, Adv. Ms. Shreya Singh, Adv. Ms. Ayushi, Adv. Mr. Sham Kerketta, Adv. : Mr. Ranjan Kumar, Adv. ---- 1. 2. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. The present writ petition has been filed for following reliefs:- “(I) For issuance of a writ for quashing the Order dated 04.02.2021, issued by Sub- Divisional Officer, Chas (Bokaro) vide Memo No. 213 (Annexure-3), whereby and whereunder, Sub-Divisional Officer, Chas has stayed the notification of Election of Patel Seva Sangh, Bokaro with immediate effect on the malicious application of Ex-President of Patel Seva Sangh, namely, Manoj Kumar, who was earlier removed from the post and Society for his illegal work, which were detrimental to the interest of society. (II) For issuance of a writ for quashing the Order dated 13.04.2021 (Annexure-5), passed by Sub- Divisional Magistrate, Chas vide memo no. 690, whereby and whereunder, the learned Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Chas acting on frivolous application of Ex- President of Patel Seva Sangh, Bokaro, namely, Manoj Kumar has erroneously directed to proceed further only after obtaining reply from voters removed from voter list, though election was getting conducted fairly on the basis of pre-existing voter list without making any change in bye-laws of society or voter list. And/Or Pass such Other Order(s)/direction(s)/ which Your Lordships may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of this case.” 3. It appears that the Patel Seva Sangh, Patna, Bihar is a Society registered under the Society Registration Act, 1860 and the Society of Bokaro, Jharkhand is a wing of the Patel Seva Sangh, Patna, Bihar, which has been registered under the provisions of the Societies Registration Act, 1860 having Registration No.50/72-73. 4. Further, it appears that earlier also the dispute has come before this Court by filing a writ petition being W.P.(C) No.3476 of 2021 which has
Decision
been disposed of vide order dated 08.12.2021. The order dated 08.12.2021 reads as under:- “The case is taken up through Video Conferencing. Learned counsel for the petitioner confines the prayers made in the present writ petition only to the extent of issuance of direction upon the respondents not to hold any election of the office bearers of ‘Patel Sewa Sangh, Bokaro’, which has its registered office in the State of Bihar and has no jurisdiction to operate in the State of Jharkhand and to restrain the said Sangh/Society from holding any election as well as using the properties of actual ‘Patel Sewa Sangh, Bokaro’ including several schools run by it i.e. Sardar Patel Public School, situated at Bokaro Steel City (Sector-IX), Pindrajora and Kamlapur of Bokaro district, as according to the petitioner, the members of the said society are illegally intervening in the affairs of the said schools. It appears that the petitioner has already represented the respondent No.2 on the present issue vide speed post on 20.07.2021, a copy of which has been annexed as Annexure-6 to the writ petition. According to the petitioner, no decision has yet been taken on the same. Under the said circumstance as well as keeping in view the nature of the prayers made in the present writ petition, without entering into the merit of the case, the petitioner is given liberty to prefer a fresh representation on the present issue before the respondent No.2. On receipt of such representation, the respondent No.2, after providing an opportunity of hearing to the petitioner as well as the representative(s) of the other ‘Patel Sewa Sangh, Bokaro’, which according to the petitioner, is intervening in the affairs of the said schools, shall take an appropriate informed decision within two months from the date of receipt of the said representation. The present writ petition is accordingly disposed of with the aforesaid liberty and direction.” Page | 2 W.P. (C) No.5554 of 2021 5. Order dated 18.05.2022 (Annexure-I.A./9) passed by the Inspector General (Registration), Jharkhand, Ranchi is quoted hereineblow:- “W.p.(c)-3476/2021 नवल (cid:7408)कशोर (cid:7079)साद बनाम रा(cid:6996)य सरकार एव अ(cid:7008)य मामले म(cid:7286) माननीय उ(cid:7340) (cid:7008)यायालय (cid:7367)ारा पा(cid:7407)रत आदेश म(cid:7286) आवेदक एव अ(cid:7008)य प(cid:6979) को िनबंधन महािनरी(cid:6979)क के सम(cid:6979) आवेदन (cid:7079)(cid:7021)तुत करने का िनदेश (cid:7408)दया तथा िनबंधन महािनरी(cid:6979)क को इस सबंध म(cid:7286) उिचत िनण(cid:6981)य लेने का िनदेश (cid:7408)दया गया है। आवेदक(cid:7298) (cid:7367)ारा आवेदन सम(cid:7414)प(cid:6981)त करने के उपरात िनबंधन महािनरी(cid:6979)क (cid:7367)ारा (cid:7408)दनांक 18.04.2022 को सुनवाई क(cid:7409) गयी। दोन(cid:7298) प(cid:6979)ो (cid:7367)ारा यह सूचना दी गयी क(cid:7409) पटेल सेवा संघ नामक स(cid:7021)था 1972-73 म(cid:7286) िनबंधन सं(cid:6990)या-50/72-73 के (cid:7367)ारा त(cid:7004)कालीन िबहार रा(cid:6996)य म(cid:7286) िनबंिधत क(cid:7409) गयी थी। वत(cid:6981)मान म(cid:7286) भी सं(cid:7021)था से जुड़े िव(cid:7378)ालय(cid:7298) एवं अ(cid:7008)य सं(cid:7021)थान(cid:7298) का सचालन (cid:7408)कया जा रहा है। जब(cid:7408)क झारख(cid:7003)ड रा(cid:6996)य म(cid:7286) पटेल सेवा संघ, बोकारो के नाम से वष(cid:6981) 2018-19 म(cid:7286) िनबंधन सं(cid:6990)या-522/2018-19 के (cid:7272)प म(cid:7286) सं(cid:7021)था िनबंिधत क(cid:7409) जा चुक(cid:7409) है। आवेदक(cid:7298) (cid:7367)ारा सं(cid:7021)था का बायलॉज / िनयमावली के आलोक म(cid:7286) चुनाव करवाने का अनुरोध (cid:7408)कया गया एवं िबहार रा(cid:6996)य म(cid:7286) िनबंिधत सं(cid:7021)था (cid:7367)ारा काय(cid:6981)(cid:6979)े(cid:7074) म(cid:7286) दखल एवं अिनयिमतता (cid:7408)कए जाने क(cid:7409) िशकायत क(cid:7409) गयी। िबहार रा(cid:6996)य म(cid:7286) िनबंिधत सं(cid:7021)था के दो गुट(cid:7298) (cid:7367)ारा दो आवेदन (cid:7079)(cid:7021)तुत (cid:7408)कया गया है, एक गुट (cid:7367)ारा झारख(cid:7003)ड रा(cid:6996)य म(cid:7286) िनबंिधत पटेल सेवा संघ, बोकारो के िनयमावली के अनुसार चुनाव कराने का अनुरोध (cid:7408)कया है, जब(cid:7408)क दूसरे प(cid:6979) (cid:7367)ारा िवहार म(cid:7286) पंजीकृ त सं(cid:7021)था का िनबंधन झारख(cid:7003)ड म(cid:7286) (cid:7408)कए जाने का अनुरोध (cid:7408)कया है। मूलतः यह मामला सं(cid:7021)था के आंत(cid:7407)रक िववाद से संबंिधत है, िजसम(cid:7286) सं(cid:7021)था म(cid:7286) चुनाव कराने का अनुरोध (cid:7408)कया गया है। उ(cid:7016)लेखनीय है (cid:7408)क सं(cid:7021)था िनबंधन अिधिनयम, 1860 एवं सं(cid:7021)था िनबंधन िनयमावली, 1965 के अ(cid:7008)तग(cid:6981)त ऐसा कोई (cid:7079)ावधान नह(cid:7277) है िजसके अ(cid:7008)तग(cid:6981)त िनबंधन महािनरी(cid:6979)क (cid:7367)ारा सं(cid:7021)थ(cid:7298) के आंत(cid:7407)रक मामल(cid:7298) अथवा चुनाव संबंधी मामले म(cid:7286) ह(cid:7021)त(cid:6979)ेप (cid:7408)कया जा सके । साथ ही उ(cid:7016)लेखनीय है (cid:7408)क मह(cid:7414)ष(cid:6981) िनिखलेश सेवा सं(cid:7021)थान बनाम झारख(cid:7003)ड सरकार संबंधी W.P.(c) No.- 2045/2014. मामले म(cid:7286) (cid:7408)दनांक 14.07.2015 को झारख(cid:7003)ड उ(cid:7340) (cid:7008)यायालय (cid:7367)ारा िनण(cid:6981)य (cid:7408)दया गया है। Judgement के पृ(cid:7399)-5 म(cid:7286) व(cid:7414)ण(cid:6981)त है (cid:7408)क “The Act, does not provided a power to 1.G. Registration to adjudicate dispute in the society or the dispute amongst the members of the society. (छाया(cid:7079)ित संल(cid:7336)) सं(cid:7021)था िनबंधन िनयमावली के आलोक म(cid:7286) के स लॉ के अ(cid:7008)तग(cid:6981)त All India Council V/s Assistant Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, AIR 1988 All 236 म(cid:7286) व(cid:7414)ण(cid:6981)त (cid:7408)कया गया है (cid:7408)क The Registrar has no Jurisdiction to decide the dispute with regard to election or continuance in office of the managing body of a registered society. इसी संबंध म(cid:7286) W.P.(c)-3260/2010 Supreme Court Bar Association V/s The Registrar of Societies & others संबंधी मामले म(cid:7286) भी (cid:7408)द(cid:7016)ली उ(cid:7340) (cid:7008)यायालय (cid:7367)ारा यह आदेश पा(cid:7407)रत (cid:7408)कया गया है (cid:7408)क (A dispute with regard to the membership, and the right of a particular member to vote at the elections is a dispute which arises between a society and its members. Such a dispute cannot be resolved by the Registrar. This is clearly beyond his jurisdiction.) (छाया(cid:7079)ित संल(cid:7336)) उपरो(cid:7334) (cid:7008)यायादेश(cid:7298) के अवलोकन से (cid:7021)प(cid:7397) है (cid:7408)क सं(cid:7021)था िनबंधन अिधिनयम / िनयमावली के अ(cid:7008)तग(cid:6981)त. सं(cid:7021)था के चुनाव से संबंिधत आंत(cid:7407)रक Page | 3 W.P. (C) No.5554 of 2021 मामले म(cid:7286) ह(cid:7021)त(cid:6979)ेप करने संबंधी कोई अिधकार िनबंधन महािनरी(cid:6979)क को (cid:7079)ा(cid:7385) नह(cid:7277) है।” 6. It has been submitted that the impugned order is a prior order and the same stands set aside but still the order is being misused. 7. From the order of this Court it is abundantly clear that once the mandamus has been issued to the I.G. (Registration), the parties have been directed to approach to the I.G. and the I.G. has passed the order in pursuance of the mandamus issued by this Court, the earlier order passed by any authority stands annulled. 8. With above clarification, the present writ petition is, hereby, disposed of. 9. However, the parties are at liberty to work out their remedies in accordance with law. 10. In view of disposal of the present writ petition, pending I.A., if any, also stands disposed of. (Rajesh Kumar, J.) Amar/- Uploaded Page | 4 W.P. (C) No.5554 of 2021