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1996 Supreme(All) 1385

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
D. K. Seth, J.
VIJAI SHANKAR SAINI - Appellant
Versus
DEPUTY REGISTRAR, CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES - Respondents
Civil Misc. Writ Petition 18217 Of 1987
Decided On : 12/06/1996

Advocates Appeared:
R.K.Saxena, S.N.SRIVASTAVA

The central legal point established in the judgment is that a contractual relationship between an employee and a Co-operative Society, not governed by statutory rules, is non-amenable to writ jurisdiction.

Headnote:

Writ Jurisdiction - Co-operative Society - The court held that the termination of the petitioner's employment by a Co-operative Society, based on a letter and oral instruction without a resolution, cannot be sustained. The court emphasized that the relationship between the petitioner and the society is contractual and not governed by statutory rules, making it non-amenable to writ jurisdiction.

Fact of the Case:

The petitioner's employment with a Co-operative Society was terminated based on a letter and oral instruction without a resolution, leading to a legal challenge.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the termination was not sustainable as the relationship between the petitioner and the society was contractual and not governed by statutory rules, making it non-amenable to writ jurisdiction. The court dismissed the petition but allowed the petitioner to seek relief before the industrial forum or civil court.

Issues: The issues revolved around the sustainability of the termination of the petitioner's employment by the Co-operative Society and the applicability of writ jurisdiction in a contractual relationship.

Ratio Decidendi: The court emphasized that the relationship between the petitioner and the Co-operative Society was contractual and not governed by statutory rules, making it non-amenable to writ jurisdiction. The court also highlighted that alternative remedies may be sought before the civil court or industrial forum.

Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, but the petitioner was allowed to seek relief before the industrial forum or civil court, with exclusion of the period taken in pursuing the present petition for the purpose of calculating limitation or delay.

D. K. SETH, J.

( 1 ) SRI S. N. Srivastava, learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the service of the petitioner with respondent No. 3 in the post of Salesman was dispensed with by an order dated 30-6-1987. He has challenged the said order on the ground that the termination was effected persuant to a letter issued by the Deputy Registrar Co-operative Societies, Varanasi being letter dated 25-6-1987 and the oral instruction dated 30-6-1987 given by the Additional District officer, Co-operative Societies, Rosra, being the foundation of the order of termination, without any resolution of the Co-operative Societies, can not be sustained.

( 2 ) SRI R. K. Saxena, learned counsel for the respondents, on the other hand contends that the petitioner is not governed by any statutory rules governing his condition of service. Admittedly, he is not a member of Centralised service. Admittedly the Co-operative Society is operating within the district by reason whereof rules governing the service of the employees of co-operative Societies can not be applicable in the case of the petitioner. Therefore, the writ petition is not maintainable on two fold grounds, namely (i) that the Co-operative society is not a state within meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution and, therefore, no writ lies against it, (ii)that the relations between the society and the petitioner being contractual one and not governed by the statutory rules, the relationship being purely contractual in nature the same can not be enforced through invocation of writ jurisdiction.

( 3 ) ADMITTEDLY, as has been held by this court in the case of Ram Lakhan Pathak v. District assistant Registrar, Co-operative Society Kanpur and Ors. , 1996 AWC 20 relying on the Full bench decision in the case of Radha Charan Sharma v. Co-operative Federation and Ors. , 1982 alr 342 (FB) that the Co-operative Society is not a State within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution, therefore, no writ can lie against the Co-operative Society.

( 4 ) ADMITTEDLY, the Co-operative Society is operating within the district. Therefore U. P. Co-operative Employees Service Regulation, 1975 can not apply in the case of the petitioner an employee of such society which operates within the district. Therefore, the relationship between the petitioner and the Co-operative Society is purely contractual one and while taking any action against the petitioner relating to the conditions of service of the petitioner the society is not performing any statutory duty or obligation making it amenable to writ jurisdiction. A private contractual right can not be enforced by invoking writ jurisdiction.

( 5 ) SIMILAR view was taken by me in the case of Maiku and Anr. v. The District Assistant engineer, Co-operative Societies, Hamirpur and Ors. , Civil Misc. Writ Petition No. 15223 of 1987 disposed of on 2nd December 1996.

( 6 ) THE submission of Sri S. N. Srivastava, learned counsel for the petitioner that since the order has been founded on the letter of Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, and the Additional district Co-operative Officer, therefore, the order is in disgise an order passed by the said officer. The order having been passed by the Secretary without any resolution of the society is in effect an order passed by the said Government officer and by reason thereof the order become amenable to writ jurisdiction.

( 7 ) SUCH submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner appears to be devoid of merit for the simple reason that it is the relation between the society and the petitioner which is being sought to be enforced. Even if the order has been passed pursuant to the letter and instruction referred to above, the same does not improve the relationship between the petitioner and the society to that of a legal right public duty relationship. The relationship remains a contractual relation, entered into in private capacity non-amenable to writ jurisdiction. The termination may be void one or bad on





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