` IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision:05.02.2026 Raghbir Singh ......Petitioner Versus Registrar Cooperative Societies and others ......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASGURPREET SINGH PURI Present:- Mr. R.K. Sharma, Advocate for the petitioner.

Ms. Shruti, AAG, Punjab.

Mr. H.S. Bedi, Advocate for respondent No.5.

Mr. Jatin Bansal, Advocate for respondent No.6.

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JASGURPREET SINGH PURI J.(Oral)

1. The present petition has been filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ in the nature of certiorari for quashing the order dated 09.01.2023 (Annexure P-3) passed by the Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Patiala Division, Patiala, while exercising the powers of the Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Punjab. 2. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the petitioner was a member of respondent No.5-The Ghumana Milk Producers Cooperative Society Limited, which is a Primary Milk Producers’ Cooperative Society. Respondent No.6 is the Patiala District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, which is the Central Society at the district level. For the purpose of election of the Managing Committee of respondent No.6–Central Society, elections are conducted from different zones comprising various Primary Milk Producers’ Cooperative Societies and in this way the Primary Milk Producers’ Cooperative Societies are represented in the Apex Society through their representatives. He submitted that in this manner, the Directors of the Central Society–respondent No.6 are elected by the Primary Cooperative Societies in their juristic personality, although they are represented through their own authorized representatives, who may either be Directors or members of the concerned Primary Society.

3. Learned counsel further contended that the petitioner, in his capacity as a member of respondent No.5–Primary Society, was duly elected to represent the said Society as a Director on the Board of Directors of respondent No.6–Central Society. However, after the aforesaid election was conducted, the membership of the petitioner in his Primary Cooperative Society, i.e., respondent No.5, was cancelled. On account of the cancellation of his membership in the Primary Society, the Joint Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Patiala Division, Patiala, vide the impugned order (Annexure P-3), passed an order ceasing him from the post of Director on the Board of Directors of respondent No.6–Central Society. He further submitted that the aforesaid order is bad in the eyes of law inasmuch as it was not the petitioner in his personal capacity as a member who could have been removed as a Director but since the Central Society is represented by the Primary Society in its juristic personality, such action could not have been taken. Therefore, the impugned order is illegal and liable to be set aside.

4. On the other hand, learned counsel for respondent Nos.5 and 6 submitted that the tenure of the Managing Committee of respondent No.6– Central Society is scheduled to expire on 15.02.2026 and only a few days remain. Therefore, adjudication of the present petition would serve no practical purpose and would amount to an academic exercise. They further submitted that the petitioner has filed the present petition in his personal capacity. His membership of the Primary Society, i.e., respondent No.5, stood cancelled, which he has never challenged, and even as on date he is not a member of respondent No.5–Society. Therefore, he does not have the locus standi to file the present petition, as he is no longer a member of respondent No.5–Society. They submitted that it is not a case where respondent No.5–Society, in its juristic capacity, has challenged the order passed by the Joint Registrar. If at all any grievance survives, the same could have been raised by the Primary Society itself. However, in so far as the petitioner is concerned, he lacks locus standi to challenge the impugn