The petitioners are the members of a 95 years old Sangha (Karnataka Vokkaligara Sangha). The matter arises in the following manner, which has a checkered career:

The petitioners claim to be life members of the 3rd respondent Sangha, which is registered under the provisions of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960. The said Sangha is established for the welfare of the members belonging to Vokkaliga community and for the purpose of running of Educational Institutions etc. It is the case of the petitioners that they and respondents 4 to 6 filed a petition before the 2nd respondent-Deputy Registrar of Societies to declare that the Special General Body Meeting held on 3-3-2002 by the 3rd respondent-Sangha in respect of certain bye-laws are illegal and contrary to the provisions of the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 (for short, 'the Act'). In the first instance the 2nd respondent accepted the amended bye-laws by his order dated 11th June, 2003. Consequently, rejected the petition of the petitioners and the amendment of the bye-laws was accepted by the 2nd respondent on 19-2-2003. The said order was questioned by some of the respondents and the petitioners in W.