IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ***

CWP-8190-2026 Date of Decision: 23.03.2026 DR SHIV SHANKAR BHARDWAJ AND ANOTHER …Petitioners Versus STATE OF HARYANA AND OTHERS …Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present:- Mr. Lalit Pardhan, Advocate for petitioners Ms. Svaneel Jaswal, Additional Advocate General, Haryana Mr. Vikram Sheoran, Advocate and Mr. Man Mohan, Advocate For respondent/ Caveator ***

JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL)

1. The petitioners through instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India are seeking setting aside of :-

i. Order dated 13.05.2025 whereby an Inquiry Officer has been appointed.

appointment of Administrator.

2. A Trust vide Will dated 06.01.1930 was created by Late Vidya Martand Pd. Sita Ram Shastri. The trustees for the administration of Trust got registered a society named as Haryana Shekhawati Bramhamcharya Ashram Samiti, Bhiwani. The society was registered vide certificate dated 06.05.1964. R.K. Sharma and others filed an application before District Registrar seeking cancellation of election schedule published by the society. The District Registrar vide order dated 18.12.2023 adjudicated the matter. It was held that there are five members of the society. The society was directed to conduct election of the governing board as per provisions of Haryana Registration and Regulation of Societies Act, 2012 (for short ‘HRRS Act’) and Rules made thereunder as well as byelaws of the society. A petition under Sections 21, 22 and 39 of HRRS Act came to be filed which was dismissed by District Registrar. Election of the society was held on 16.03.2024 and application was submitted before District Registrar for approval of the list of governing body. The same was accepted vide order dated 16.03.2024. One member of the society passed away. Four persons namely Bhupender Bhardwaj, Pardeep Kumar, Jaiparkash Sharma and Mahesh Dutt Sharma filed application before District Registrar for becoming member of the society. In the meeting dated 28.04.2024 of the General Body, it was decided that registration of the society be got cancelled and society be dissolved. In the meeting dated 31.10.2024, it was decided to authorize president and secretary to transmit information to District Registrar. The District Registrar vide letter dated 03.02.2025 directed the society to submit requisite documents for its dissolution. The District Registrar vide order dated 13.05.2025 appointed Inquiry Officer. The petitioner approached District Registrar who informed that there is no option to submit application for dissolution of the society. The society filed review petition against appointment of Inquiry Officer. The District Registrar vide order dated 26.05.2025 dismissed review petition. The society preferred appeal before State Registrar of Societies who also dismissed the same. On the recommendation of State Registrar of Societies, show cause notice dated 17.12.2025 was issued to petitioner by Director General of Industries of Commerce-cum-Registrar General of Societies Haryana. The petitioner filed reply to aforesaid notice wherein it was pointed out that Inquiry report has been challenged before Civil Court. The civil suit is pending, thus, proceedings may be kept in abeyance. The petitioner filed appeal before Registrar General of Societies who vide order dated 05.03.2026 dismissed its appeal.

3. Learned counsel for the respondents submit that an inquiry officer was appointed by District Registrar, Bhiwani. The inquiry officer has submitted his report dated 03.08.2024. The said report is under challenge before Civil Court. The respondents have filed writ petition (CWP-30671-2025) before this Court seeking implementation of inquiry report. The inquiry report has been implemented. An Administrator has been appointed and he has already taken charge.

4. There is dispute between the stakeholders with respect to genuineness of membership. The petitioners are claiming that there are only four