Patnaik, J. Both the Original petitions were heard together as common questions of law are raised and this judgment shall govern both the cases.

Overruled Partly overruled Referred to For Petitioner For Respondents

2. The questions that arise for consideration are: ,

(1) Whether the Returning Officer appointed under R.35 of the Kerala Cooperative Societies Rules, 1969 has the power to make an enquiry into the question of eligibility of a voter before the publication of the final list of voters to elect members of a committee of the Society if and when an objection under R.35 (3)(b) of the Rules is received in this regard and if so what is the scope of the enquiry.

(2) Whether in these cases, there was any scope to hold an enquiry before publication of the final list of voters.

3. Petitioners in both the cases are respectively the members of the Ayyanthole Service Co-op. Bank Ltd. Ayyanthole, Thrissur District and Kanjikkulam Service Coop. Bank Ltd., Kanjikkulam, Palakkad District. The respondents are respectively the Joint Registrars of Co-op. Societies, Thrissur and Palakkad the Senior Inspector of Cooperative Societies, the Managing Committee of Service Co-op. Banks Ltd. A