The court reaffirmed that under the amended provisions of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, management of societies must be elected rather than merely nominated, underscoring the importance of democratic process.

1. This bunch of eleven writ petitions relate to a common matrix i.e. the dispute relating to authority for management and administration of Shri. Ram Chandra Mission / Society (hereinafter referred to as 'Mission / Society') registered under Societies Registration Act , 1860 (hereinafter referred to as 'Act, 1860').

2. Broadly, these writ petitions are in four sets. There are three writ petitions in which dispute relating to renewal of registration of Mission / Society under S.3/3 - A of Act, 1860 is involved.

3. Writ Petition No. 8950 of 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 'first writ petition'), has been filed on behalf of Mission / Society through its Treasurer Sri. Surendra Kumar Dixit, seeking writ of mandamus commanding respondent No. 3 i.e. Assistant Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits, Bareilly [hereinafter referred to as 'A.R.(F.S.C.)'] to hand over renewed certificate of registration to Working Committee of petitioner No. 1 i.e. Mission / Society, in terms of letter No. SRCM / HQ / 2000-01/174, dated 26.9.2000. It has further sought a writ of prohibition, prohibiting A.R.(F.S.C.) from issuing renewed certificate of registration in respect of petitioner No. 1 - Mission / Society to any other person. Further it prays that such recognition if issued to P. Rajgopalachari, nominating President, the same be cancelled by issuing a writ of certiorari. In this writ petition, the three respondents impleaded are State of U.P.; Registrar, Firms, Societies and Chits [hereinafter referred to as 'Registrar, (F.S.C.)']; and, A.R. (F.S.C.). This renewal certificate pertains to the period of 2000-05.

4. Writ Petition No. 69081 of 2005 (hereinafter referred to as 'second writ petition') has been filed on behalf of Mission / Society through its President Navneet Kumar Saxena and others impleading seven respondents, which include State of U.P.; Registrar (F.S.C.); A.R. (F.S.C.); Shri. P. Rajagopalachari and three others. There are, in all, ten prayers in the writ petition. The first one is to quash the order dated 10.10.2005 passed by A.R. (F.S.C.) renewing registration of petitioner Mission / Society in favour of respondent No. 5 i.e. Uma Shankar Bajpai, copy whereof has not been supplied to the petitioner despite having applied therefor. The next prayer is for writ of mandamus commanding A.R. (F.S.C.) to deliver certified copy of order dated 10.10.2005 to the petitioners. The third prayer is for quashing order dated 10.10.2005 passed by Registrar (F.S.C.) directing A.R. (F.S.C.) to renew registration certificate in favour of respondent No.

5. A writ of mandamus has also been sought for directing respondents not to give effect to the order dated 10.10.2005 with regard to renewal of registration of society and the said order be not acted upon and / or used by respondent Nos. 4 and 5 and instead A.R. (F.S.C.) should allow application dated 10.9.2005 filed by petitioners for renewal of Society and renew registration in favour of elected Managing Body represented by petitioner No. 2 as per requirement of S.3 - A of Act, 1860 and not to interfere in peaceful possession of Mission / Society managed by petitioners elected managing body, having its Headquarters at Shahjahanpur. For being more precise, this Court reproduce reliefs (a) to (h) as under:'a) writ, order or direction in the nature of certiorari calling for the record of the File No. I - 2410 with regard to the Renewal of the Registration Certificate of the Petitioner Society and quash the order dated 10.10.2005