Shanmugam, J.

The petitioner seeks for a declaration that he is entitled to continue as duly elected Vice-President of the Kerala State Co-operative Bank Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as 'the bank') and for a declaration that R.37(3) of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Rules as invalid and for a further declaration that the nominated members of the Bank are not entitled to vote in the election of office bearers and for direction not to convene any meeting for the election of the President or Vice-President of the Bank.

2. The Kerala State Co-operative Bank is an apex society registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the act" ). The Board of Directors of the Bank consists of the following: a) one Director deputed by each affiliated District Co-operative Bank numbering 165; b) the Registrar of Co-operative Societies; c) two nominees of the State Government; d) the Managing Director of the bank; e) one representative of Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes; and f) one woman representative.

3. After the 'expiry of the term of the office bearers of the State Co-operative Bank, a meeting of the Board of Directors of the bank for the yea