NINGOM Digitally signed by NINGOMBAM BAM VICTORIA Date: 2025.12.09 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL WP(C) No. 961 of 2025 Hockey Manipur.

Petitioner …

- Versus -

State of Manipur & 2 Ors.

s …Respondent With MC(WP(C)) No. 890 of 2025 B E F O R E HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A. GUNESHWAR SHARMA

ORDER

08-12-2025 [1] Heard Mr. M. Hemchandra, learned senior counsel assisted by Md. Juno Rahman, learned counsel for the petitioner.

[2] By the present petition, the petitioner, Hockey Manipur, is challenging the impugned order dated 10-11-2025 issued by the Registrar of Societies, Manipur cancelling the earlier order dated 30-01-2025 issued by the earlier Registrar of Societies, Manipur cancelling the registration of Manipur Hockey, respondent No. 3. Mr. M. Hemchandra, learned senior counsel for the petitioner, is aggrieved by the contents of the last but one para of the impugned order to the effect that the incumbent Registrar cancelling the registration of Manipur Hockey and the same is without following the provisions of Manipur Societies Registration Act, 1989 and Rules, 2004.

[3] This Court has perused the material on record. The litigation between the parties started a decade ago where the petitioner, Hockey Manipur, objected to the Office of Registrar of Societies, Manipur about the registration of respondent No. 3 as Manipur Hockey as the two names are similar and will confuse the general public and the same is in violation of the provisions of the act and rules. Upon this, the Secretary (Cooperation), Government of Manipur issued an order dated 22-01-2018 directing respondent No. 3 to change its name and alter its memorandum. The impugned order was challenged by respondent No. 3 by way of a writ petition being WP(C) No. 916 of 2019 and the same was rejected vide order 20-07- 2022 and the direction for change of the name and the amendment of the memorandum was upheld. The matter was carried over on appeal and the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court (as appropriate Bench was not available) vide order 26-07-2024 in WA No. 27 of 2023 upheld the direction of the learned Single Judge and the direction of the Secretary (Cooperation) in the order dated 22-01-2018 to change the name of respondent No. 3 has attained finality. Thereafter, respondent No. 3 changed its name by holding a Special General Body Meeting and the same was rejected by the earlier Registrar vide order dated 30-01-2025 mostly on technical ground of non- issuance of statutory 15 days’ notice and the meeting called by unauthorized person. The order of the Registrar cancelling the name of registration of respondent No. 3 was challenged by respondent No. 3 before this Court by way of WP(C) No. 163 of 2025. Upon the issuance of impugned order dated petition, i.e. WP(C) No. 163 of 2025, was closed as infructuous. Now, the petitioner is challenging the revival of the registration and the change of name of respondent No. 3.

[4] Issue notice.

[5] Mr. O. Ratan Kumar, learned Dy. Government Advocate, accepts notice on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 & 2 and Mr. W. Sanatomba, learned counsel, accepts notice on behalf of respondent No. 3. Hence, service is complete on the respondents.

[6] Mr. W. Sanatomba, learned counsel for respondent No. 3, questions the locus of the petitioner to file the present writ petition as the cancellation and revival of the registration is with respect to respondent No.

3 and the petitioner has nothing to do with the order.

[7] Mr. O. Ratan Kumar, learned Dy. Government Advocate appearing on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 & 2, prays for some time to take instructions and file appropriate reply.

[8] List these cases on 23-01-2026.

[9] The prayer for interim relief will be considered on the next returnable date.

JUDGE Victoria