2009 Supreme(All) 748
HIGH COURT OF ALLAHABAD
U.K.Dhaon, Prakash Krishna
FAHIM AHMAD
Versus
STATE OF U P
Decided On : 05 March 2009
Special Appeal No. 462 of 2006
A.K.TIWARI, Altaf Mansoor, SANJAY KUMAR,
Headnote:
Election - Societies Registration Act - Section 21 - Summary of Acts and Sections: The court discussed the legality of the electoral list preparation and the interference of the Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits in the election process. The court highlighted the principles of delegation of power, the finality of the electoral list, and the limitations on the Registrar's authority. The court emphasized the importance of the election process and the statutory remedies available under the Societies Registration Act.
Fact of the Case:
The case involved a dispute over the election process of the Executive Body of the Muslim Association Kanpur. The Deputy Registrar issued directions for holding the election, and subsequent litigation ensued regarding the finalization of the electoral list and interference by the Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits.
Finding of the Court:
The court found that the electoral list had been finalized after due consideration of objections and had attained finality. The court held that the Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits had no authority to issue directions after the finalization of the electoral list. The court also emphasized the importance of the election process and the limitations on the Registrar's power.
Issues: The main issues included the finalization of the electoral list, the interference by the Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, and the validity of the election process. The court also addressed the expulsion of office bearers and the limitations on their consecutive terms.
Ratio Decidendi: The court's decision was based on the principles of delegation of power, the finality of the electoral list, and the limitations on the Registrar's authority. The court emphasized the importance of the election process and the statutory remedies available under the Societies Registration Act.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the Special Appeal, emphasizing the finality of the electoral list, the limitations on the Registrar's authority, and the importance of the election process.
2. Kanpur is an industrial town and is known for leather goods. Several persons of the Muslim Community who are dealing in rawhides (Bovine), tanneries, at Kanpur with a view to run school for imparting religious and word by education through which Islamic theology and its culture could be taught, to supervise and manage the Waqfs, to give scholarship to create interest for acquiring knowledge in different trade of education and to provide fooding and lodging and education to orphan boys and girls etc. , formed a society known as Muslim Association Kanpur which is a registered Society under Section 21 of the Societies Registration Act. The said society is running and managing six educational institutions enumerated in clause 12 of the bye-laws of the society. A bye-law to govern the functioning of the society has been drawn. Three kinds of membership to the society has been provided. In addition to various other provisions, it has been provided that there would be an Executive Body of thirty members inclusive of office-bearers. The election of the members of office-bearers will be for three years.
3. The last election of the Executive Body was held on 25th of June, 1993 which completed its term of three years on 24th of June, 1996. In the said election Fahim Ahmed, the appellant No. 1, was elected as President and Shri Ishrat Qayyum and Mohd. Aslam, respondents No. 4 and 5 were elected as Secretary and Treasurer. After completion of its term, the Executive Body continued to function as such on the strength of bye-law No. 10 wherein it has been provided that in case due to any reason the election is not held after three years, then, the elected Executive Body will continue to work till new election is held. Undisputably, no election was held after 25th of June, 1993 and the members of the Executive Body continued to remain in the office including respondents No. 4 and 5 on the strength of the aforementioned bye law No. 10 although the term of elected office bearers had expired, since fresh election was not held.
4. The Deputy Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, Kanpur Mandal at Kanpur issued a direction on 23. 10. 1999 for holding election of the society.
5. A writ petition No. 47580 of 1999: Muslim Association, Kanpur v. State of U. P. and others, was filed in the High Court at Allahabad, challenging the legality and validity of the aforestated order dated 23. 10. 1999. This Court observed that the last elections were held in 1993 and for the sake of argument if it is accepted that the elected body could continue till the next election, it was allowed to continue for three years more, then, the election should have been held by June, 1999. The writ petition was dismissed by the judgment and order dated 18th November, 1999. This was the first round of litigation before this Court at Allahabad.
6. After the dismissal of the aforestated writ petition, a fresh date i. e. 25th July, 2000 was fixed by the Deputy Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits for holding the election of Executive Body. Some individual members filed writ petition No. 1723 (M/s) of 2000 challenging the said order of the Deputy Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits before this Court at Lucknow. The Court stayed the holding of election vide order dated 24. 7. 2000. Subsequent thereto, this Court vide order dated 31. 7. 2003 vacated the order dated 24. 7. 2000, as the election process had started.
7. After the vacation of the interim order, the Deputy Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, again tried to