Delay beyond statutory period in filing a revision petition without sufficient justification cannot be condoned.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed aggrieved by an order passed by the first respondent in Na.Ka.No.9095/2022/sa.pa (Revision Petition No....../2022), dated 14.02.2023, refusing to entertain the said revision petition under Section 153 of the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act, 1983”), on the ground that the same was filed beyond the period of 90 days prescribed under the proviso to Section 153 of the Act, 1983.

2.The facts that are relevant for disposal of this Writ Petition are as follows:

2.1.The petitioner, while working as a Junior Clerk in the second respondent Society, was kept in charge of the post of Secretary of another Society by name R1637 Oorakarai Mahadevi Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society Limited. While holding charge of the said Society, a charge memo was issued to the petitioner alleging misappropriation of an amount of Rs.6,00,000/-. After conducting a detailed enquiry, the petitioner was dismissed from service by an order dated 25.02.2015 with effect from the date of suspension, i.e., 23.01.2014.

2.2.Aggrieved by the said order of dismissal, the petitioner filed a revision petition before the first respondent herein under Section 153 of the Act, 1983. However, for reasons best known to him, the petitioner chose to withdraw the said revision petition on 20.11.2015. Thereafter, after a lapse of more than seven years, the petitioner filed yet another revision petition before the first respondent against the order dated 25.02.2015 under Section 153 of the Act, 1983. The said revision petition was refused to be entertained by the first respondent on the ground that the same was filed beyond the period of 90 days prescribed under the statute, i.e., after a delay of 7 years, 9 months and 25 days, by order dated 14.02.2023. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition.

3.Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner contended that the first respondent has the power to condone the delay and is under an obligation to entertain a revision petition even if the same is filed beyond the period of 90 days, upon considering the reasons furnished for the delay in filing the revision petition. He further placed reliance on a decision of the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.(MD) No.14467 of 2013, dated 09.12.2016 [P.Ravi Vs. The Joint Registrar of Co- operatives, Maudrai Region, Madurai], in support of his contention, and sought for an appropriate direction directing the first respondent to entertain the revision petition and decide the same on merits.

4.On the other hand, Mr.B.Ramanathan, learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, submitted that there is no power to condone the delay under the statute if the revision petition is filed beyond the period prescribed under the proviso to Section 153 of the Act, 1983. He further contended that no reasons were assigned by the petitioner for the delay, nor any application was filed seeking condonation of delay.

5.This Court has carefully considered the submissions made on either side and perused the entire materials placed on record.

6.Insofar as the power of the first respondent to entertain a revision petition filed beyond the period of 90 days is concerned, the same is no more res integra. The issue has already been decided by this Court in the case of N.P. Palanichamy vs. State of Tamil Nadu and others [2012 (4) CTC 257 (Madras)], wherein it was held that in the absence of any provision excluding the application of Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963, or any provision mandating rejection of an application filed beyond the period of 90 days,