1. In these writ petitions, the petitioners who are 'C' class members of the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co - operative Society Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as the 'Society') have challenged the validity of Resolution No. 10 of the General Body Meeting of the said Society held on 31-1-85 effecting certain amendments to bye - law No. 15 of the Society as per Annexure - A and the order dt/- 1-3-1985 of the Registrar of Co - operative Societies in Karnataka (Respondent No. 18) approving and registering the said amendments as per Annexure - B.

2. The Society is registered under S.7 of Karnataka Co - operative Societies Act 1959 (for short the Act') read with S.4(2) of the Multi Unit Co - operative Societies Act, 1942. The Society is governed by the Act and the Rules framed thereunder and with its bye - laws. The area of its operation extends to the States of Karnataka and Kerala and its Headquarters is at Mangalore. The object of the Society is to procure arecanut and cocoa, undertake the processing thereof and market the same. The members of the Society consists of five classes as mentioned below :

3. Bye - law No. 15 of the said Society before the impugned a