CHITAMBARESH, J.

1. “Why not modernise the voter's identity card by lamination and bar code” muses Mr. George Poonthottam, Advocate for the appellant. “It cannot be so done in the absence of statutory sanction” quips Mr. P.C. Sasidharan, Advocate for the respondents. “Improvisation sans legislation cannot be countenanced” emphasises Mr. K.S. Mohamad Hashim, Special Government Pleader. The issue arises under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 ('the Act') and the Kerala Co-operative Societies Rules, 1969 ('the Rules).

2. The members of the Police Co-operative Society Limited ['the Society' for short] complained to the Joint Registrar (General) of Cooperative Societies about the legality of the identity cards issued. The Joint Registrar thereupon called for a report from the Assistant Registrar (General) who after inspection found that the allegation in the complaint is well-founded. The Administrative Committee of the Society was accordingly directed by the Joint Registrar to issue fresh identity cards conforming to the statutory prescriptions. The appellant who is the Convener of the Administrative Committee objected to this course and the Assistant Registrar again