JUDGMENT

B. SUBHASHAN REDDY, J .

The writ petitions have been filed questioning the action of the authorities, be it the Government or the District Collectors, in stalling the election to the Committees of the respective Co-operative Societies by invoking the power under Rule 22-AAA of A.P. Co-operative Societies Rules. The said rules have been framed by virtue of rule-making power under sub-section (1) of Section 130 of the A.P. Co-operative Societies Act, 1964 which reads :

"The Government may by notification published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette make rules for carrying out all or any of the purposes of this Act for the whole or any part of the State and for any class of societies."

2. Hitherto, the tenure of the Committees elected was three years, but the same has been increased to five years. The societies concerned in this batch of writ petitions had elected Committees to manage their respective societies, but their term had expired and as such, elections were to be conducted. The election authority has issued notification appointing Election Officers and the dates for elections were set. But, later on, they were stayed by virtue of the orders passed by the Government in some ca