1. By an order dated 8.11.1988, the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Saoner, has passed an order under Section 35(1) of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act"), cancelling the membership of 81 persons in Walni Pardi Majoor Kamgar Sahakari Sanstha. The order was passed after issuance of show cause notice to all those persons. About 35 such members preferred Appeal No. 167 of 2001 under Section 152 of the said Act, challenging the said order after lapse of period of about 13 years. The appeal has been dismissed holding that there is sufficient cause made out for condonation of delay. The relevant consideration in the order passed by the Divisional Joint Registrar is reproduced below;

"I have duly considered the submissions put forth before me and also examined the documents submitted before me. It is an admitted fact in the present appeal, and order passed on 08.11.1988 has been challenged. The impugned order thus has been challenged after a lapse of about 13 years, The concerned record and proceedings in connection with the impugned order is not available with the office of the Assistant Registrar, C.S. Saoner and so it is practically not possible to examine the propriety and legality of the impugned order. The copy of the impugned order submitted before me show that the impugned order was accompanied by Annexure-A containing the names of 81 expelled members of the Walani Pardi Mazoor Kamgar Sahakari Sanstha, which include the names of the Appellants. The same has been issued to concerned expelled members under certificate of posting. The list bears the postage stamp and the seal dated 12/11/1988. As such an inference can prima facie be drawn that the impugned order was issued to concerned expelled members on 12.11.1988. Copy of the resolution of Special General Meeting dated 15.06.1988, submitted before me reveal that a decision was taken in the said meeting to expel 81 members. The said resolution seems to have been checked by the Assistant Co-operative Officer and also by Assistant Registrar, C.S. Saoner as copy of the resolution bears their signatures on 15.10.1988. In absence of any other record, the copy of the aforesaid resolution can be relied upon which demonstrates that the same has been scrutinized by Assistant Registrar, C.S.Saoner on 15.10.1988. Further all the Appellants are resident of Mouza Walani and the Respondent No1. Society also exists at Walani. It is, therefore, not likely that the Appellants were not aware of the activities of the Respondent No.1 society since Mozua Walani is a small village. It is also not likely that the Appellants could not get knowledge of Annual General Meeting convened by the Respondent No1. Society taking into consideration the fact that the appellants are resident of Mouza Walani and the Respondent No1. Society also exists at Walani. In view of the aforesid facts and circumstances, it is difficult to construe that the appellants were not aware of their expulsion for a long period of about 13 years. Hence, I decline to accept the peal of the Appellants to the effect that they came to know about the impugned order only on 9/10 February 2001 and they had no knowledge about their expulsion for a long period of about 13 years, The appellants have not demonstrated any tangible or valid reason for such an inordinate delay in filing appeal and the same cannot be treated as bonafide delay. The appeal is dismissed holding that no explanation is made out for condonation of 13 years delay caused in filing an appeal. Revision application preferred by the respondents-expelled members has been allowed by the Minister of State for Corporation, Marketing and Textile by an order dated 28.09.2007. Hence this writ petition.

2. The Minister has considered the aspect of delay in its order as under;

"From all above observations, I come to the conclusion that the Divisional Joint Registrar has not considered the case of the applican