1996 Supreme(MP) 575
High Court Of Madhya Pradesh
S. S. Jha
KUSUMBAI JAIN - Appellant
Versus
STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH - Respondents
W. P. 793 Of 1995
Decided On : 07/09/1996
The administrator of a superseded society does not have the power to induct new members in the society.
Headnote:
SOCIETY - SUPPRESSION - ADMINISTRATOR - POWERS - INDUCTION OF MEMBERS - ELECTION - VALIDITY - M. P. SOCIETY REGISTRATION ACT, 1973 - SECTION 33(1), 33(4), 40.
Fact of the Case:
A society was superseded by the State Government under Section 33(1) of the M. P. Society Registration Act, 1973, and an administrator was appointed. The administrator conducted elections and declared the results. An appeal was filed before the State Government against the ministerial work of the Registrar under Section 27 of the Act.
Finding of the Court:
The court held that the administrator was not empowered to induct new members in the society. The powers to induct members which is vested with the governing body of the society was not entrusted to the administrator by the registrar. As such the administrator had no jurisdiction or power to induct new members in the society.
Issues: Whether the administrator can hold the elections of the body after inducting members by excluding the members existing on the roles of the society?
Ratio Decidendi: The court held that the administrator was not empowered to induct new members in the society. The powers to induct members which is vested with the governing body of the society was not entrusted to the administrator by the registrar. As such the administrator had no jurisdiction or power to induct new members in the society.
Final Decision: The court dismissed the petition and directed the Registrar, Co-operative Society to hold the election of the society amongst the members who were existing on the date of suppression in the society.
( 1 ) THE instant petition has been filed by the petitioner challenging the order Annexure P/4, passed by the Under Secretary, State of M. P. , dated 6th june, 1995 in appeal and allowing the appeal by setting aside the order passed by registrar of Firms and Society.
( 2 ) THE contention of the petitioner is that at Bhind, Kusumbai Jain Kanya mahavidyalaya Prabandh Samiti is a registered society under the M. P. Society registrikaran Adhiniyam, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the 'act')- According to the petitioner, this society was superseded by the orders of the Government under section 33 (1) of the Act on 13-9-1991. The sub-divisional officer was appointed as an administrator of the society. The administrator conducted the elections of the society on 9-9-1994 and declared the results of the election. The administrator/ sub-divisional officer has handed over the charge of the society to the newly elected body. After newly elected body took over the charge, an appeal was filed by respondent no. 3 before the State Government assailing the ministerial work of the Registrar under Section 27 of the Act. The contention of the learned Counsel for the petitioner is that no appeal lay before the State Government against the ministerial act of the registrar registering the names of elected members of the society. Learned Counsel for the applicant further submitted that since the appeal was not maintainable, the order passed by the appellate authority is non-est.
( 3 ) THE learned Counsel for the petitioner submitted that the order of setting aside election by the State Government is on filmsy grounds. The question also arose whether the Registrar should induct the members when the society is under suppression ? the administrator published advertisement in newspaper and invited application offering membership to the interested person, in daily newspaper 'shram sadhana' published from Gwalior. The State Government while considering the appeal was of the opinion that the appointment of the administrator is to remove blocked in the society and to keep the society in order and handover charge to the newly elected body. It is not provided under the Act. The administrator is not empowered to start movement for inducting membership in the society. The registrar has also not invited the members who were existing on the date of suppression of the society. The Registrar has wrongly held that the membership of members have been terminated automatically. The action of the administrator was also not accepted by the State Government and State Government vide its order set-aside the order dated 25-10-1994 passed by the Registrar of the Societies.
( 4 ) MAIN question is whether the administrator can hold the elections of the body after inducting members by excluding the members existing on the roles of the society ? The powers of administrator to induct or enroll new members is also to be considered.
( 5 ) SECTION 33 of the Act provides for suppression of the society and powers of the administrator are provided under sub-section (4) of Section 33 of the Act. Sub-section 4 of Section 33 of the Act is re-produced below for its consideration:"the person or persons so appointed shall, subject to the control of registrar and to such instructions as he may from time to time give, have power to exercise all or any of the functions of the governing body or of any officer of the society, and to take all such actions as may be required in the interest of the society. "sub-section 4 of Section 33 of the Act provides for powers of administrator of the superseded society. Sub-section 4 providesthat person or persons so appointed shall, subject to the control of the Registrar and to such instructions as he may from time to time give, have power to exercise all or any of the functions of the covering body or of any officer of the society and to take all such actions as may be required in the interest of the society. The intention of sub-section 4 of S