Shashikant M. Ramane And Ors. Vs Joint Registrar Co-operative Societies (Bombay High Court)
The Bombay High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging concurrent orders of the Deputy Registrar, Joint Registrar and the Minister (Co-operation), which had disqualified the petitioners, former members of the managing committee of a co-operative housing society, for failing to furnish documents sought by another committee member under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (MCS Act). The Deputy Registrar had also debarred the petitioners from being appointed, nominated, elected or co-opted as committee members for five years. While the Joint Registrar had set aside the appointment of an Administrator, the disqualification was upheld at every stage.
The dispute arose after Respondent No. 4, a committee member, requested copies of the minutes of 13 managing committee meetings held between April 2022 and March 2023 and a copy of the video recording of the Annual General Meeting held on 24 September 2023. Along with his written requests dated 5 October and 8 October 2023, he enclosed cheques of ₹200 each towards copying charges. When the documents were not supplied, he filed complaints on the Government portal, following which the Deputy Registrar repeatedly directed the society to furnish the documents. The society later deposited copies of the minutes and the AGM recording with the Deputy Registrar instead of supplying them directly to Respondent No. 4, resulting in disqualification proceedings under Sections 154B-8 and 154B-23 of the MCS Act.
