IN THE HIGH COURT FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AT HYDERABAD.

THE HON’BLE JUSTICE MOUSHUMI BHATTACHARYA AND THE HON’BLE JUSTICE GADI PRAVEEN KUMAR WRIT APPEAL Nos.555, 556, 557 and 559 of 2025 Date of Judgment: 11-02-2026 W.A.No.555 of 2025 Between :

The Fishermen Co-operative Society, Suryapet …. Appellant.

And

1. The Fishermen Cooperative Society, Pillalamarri village and three others. .… Respondents.

COMMON JUDGMENT: (per Hon’ble Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar Since, all these appeals arise out the common order passed in the Writ Petitions, they are being heard and disposed of by this common judgment.

2. Heard Sri A.Praneeth, learned counsel representing Sri P.Lakshma Reddy, learned counsel for the appellant, Sri M.Amarnath, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.1/Writ Petitioner in W.A.No.555 of 2025; respondent No.5 in W.A.No.556 and 557 of 2025; and respondent Nos.6 to

39 in W.A.No.559 of 2025; and Sri G.Kiran Kumar, learned Government Pleader for Fisheries appearing for respondent Nos.2 to 4 in W.A.No.555 of 2025; respondent No.1 to 4 in W.A.Nos.556 and 557 of 2025; and respondent No.3 to 5 in W.A.No.559 of 2025.

3. W.A.Nos.555, 556, 557 and 559 of 2025 are filed aggrieved by the common order dated 02.05.2025 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.Nos.6035 of 2021, 10852 of 2023, 8247 and 12409 of 2025.

4. W.P.No.6035 of 2021 was filed by the Fishermen Co-operative Society, Pillalamarri (for short, ‘FCS, Pillalamarri’) challenging the proceedings dated 29.03.2019, issued by the Ex-Officio Registrar, Cooperative Society/ Fisheries Commissioner, Government of Telangana, as illegal and arbitrary.

5. W.P.No.10852 of 2023 was filed by the Fishermen Co-operative Society, Suryapet (for short, ‘FCS, Suryapet’) and others challenging the proceedings of the District Fisheries Officer/Ex-Officio Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies (Fisheries), Suryapet (for short ‘DFO’) dated 19.12.2022 registering the amendment to the Bye-Law No.1 (area of operation) of the Society, Suryapet under Section 16(5) of the Telangana Co-operative Societies Act, 1964 (for short ‘the Act’) without following the procedure as contemplated under Section 15-A of the Act, as illegal, arbitrary and contrary to law.

6. W.P.No.8247 of 2025 was filed by the FCS, Suryapet seeking Writ of Mandamus to declare the letter dated 12.03.2025 issued by the DFO issuing leasehold rights for conducting fishing operations in respect of Shobha Samudram Tank situated at Pillalamarri, Suryapet in favour of FCS, Pillalamarri, which according to them, is a non-existing entity under law and as arbitrary and unconstitutional and consequently to set aside the same and to direct the DFO to issue leasehold rights of the same to the FCS, Suryapet.

7. Similarly, W.P.No.12409 of 2025 was filed by the FCS, Suryapet to consider their representations dated 11.04.2025 and 15.04.2025 for grant of leasehold rights for conducting fishing operations in respect of Shobha Samudram Tank, Pillalamarri.

8. The facts leading to file W.P.No.6035 of 2021 by the FCS, Pillalamarri are that the members of the said Society are fishermen by profession and eking out their livelihood by conducting fishing operations. The petitioner claimed that it was duly registered under the Act and that it was entitled to conduct fishing operations in two tanks, namely Shobha Samudram and Kethavani tank, situated in Pillalamarri Village. The fishermen of Pillalamarri village approached the DFO seeking formation of a separate cooperative society and that, after obtaining feasibility and viability reports and conducting a skill test in accordance with the applicable Government Orders, the petitioner society was registered under Section 8 of the Act on 09.04.2018. A certificate of registration bearing No.01/QFC/2018 was issued by the competent authority.

9. Soon after registration, FCS, Pillalamarri paid lease amount of Rs.26,980/- for the Fasli year 2018 to the Fisheries Department on 18.04.2018 in respect of two