Ramalingam and Others vs The Inspector General of Registration, Registration Department, The District Registrar (Societies), The Tahsildar and Navaladian Small farmers Lift Irrigation Society

P. Jyothimani, J.—The petitioners seek a Writ of Mandamus directing the first and second respondents to take action based on the

representation made by the petitioners on 10.10.2007 and appoint an appropriate authority to enquire into the affairs of the 4th respondent

Society.

The 4th respondent is a registered Society with the Registrar of Societies with an object to provide irrigation facilities to the agriculturists in and

around the Mohanur village in Namakkal Taluk. Based on the request of the 4th respondent Association, the Government had sunk bore wells in

the Cauvery Basin and pumped water through pipes to the lands belonging to the members of the 4th respondent. There was dispute regarding

membership of the Society, which arose in the year 2003 and the petitioners were not allowed to participate in the election, which was conducted

in the year 2003. This was challenged by filing a Writ Petition in W.P. No. 18035 of 2003 by the petitioners. It is seen that the above writ petition

was allowed on 23.12.2004. However, on appeal by the 4th respondent, the Division Bench has directed the petitioners to approach the Civil

court, since civil dispute cannot be decided in the writ petition.

Pursuant to the direction of the Division Bench of this Court, the petitioner has filed O.S. No. 216 of 2005 on the file of Sub Judge, Namakkal

challenging the election conducted on 29.5.2003 and the same is pending as on date. In the meantime, there was some dispute regarding supply of

water by the 4th respondent and there was Peace Committee Meeting, which was conducted by respondents 2 and 3, in which, the 4th

respondent had also participated. Based on the said decision taken on 8.8.2005, the 4th respondent continues to supply water to the members of

the 4th respondent and also to the petitioners.

The case of the 4th respondent is that the petitioners have ceased to be the members of the 4th respondent Society and whether they continue

to be the member or not has to be decided by the Civil Court. The petitioner, having approached the Civil Court as per the direction of the

Division Bench of this Court, cannot be stated to have any locus-standi to complain about the conduct of the 4th respondent in supplying water. In

the representation given by the petitioners to the respondents 1 and 2 dated 10.10.2007, the petitioners have raised some allegations against the

4th respondent in respect of collection of amount and therefore, in the public interest, they want an enquiry to be conducted against the conduct of

the 4th respondent.

Mr. R. Karthikeyan, learned Counsel for the petitioners submits that even though membership of the petitioners in the 4th respondent Society is

in question, which is pending adjudication in the suit, inasmuch as admittedly the petitioners were also supplied water based on the arrangement

entered in the Peace committee Meeting and the 4th respondent is in fact of receiving money, the petitioners have right to request the public

authorities viz., the respondents 2 and 3 to inspect the affairs of the 4th respondent.

On the other hand, Mr. D. Krishnakumar, learned Counsel appearing for the 4th respondent submits that in fact the petitioners want an enquiry

to be conducted by the Registrar which is permissible only u/s 36 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. Section 36 of the Tamil

Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 reads as follows:

Power of Registrar to inquire into the affairs of registered Society:

(1) The Registrar may, of his own motion or on the application of a majority of the members of the committee of a registered society or on the

application of not less than one-third of the members of that registered society, or, if so moved by the District Collector hold or direct some person

authorised by the Registrar by order in writing in his behalf to hold, an inquiry, into the constitution, working and financial condition of that

registered society"".

(2) ...

All the petitioners are not the members of the 4th respondent society as on date and therefore, to have an enquiry u/s 36 of the Tamil Nadu

Societies Registration Act, 1975, the petitioners have no locus-standi at all.

He also submits that 4th respondent has accepted to give water to the petitioners only as a matter of interim measure and not recognising the

petitioners as members of the 4th respondent society and concession was given only to avoid any unpleasant situation.

On the other hand it is the case of the petitioner that the petitioners do not require any enquiry u/s 36 of the Act but what is required is the

Registrar to get information about the functioning of the Society, which will be covered u/s 34 of the Act. Section 34 of the Act reads as follows:

34 Power of Registrar to call for information or explanation:

(1) Where the Registrar, on perusal of any document which a registered society is required to file with him under the provisions of this Act, is of

opinion that any information or explanation is necessary with respect to any matter to which such document purports to relate, he may, by order in

writing, call on the registered society filing the document to furnish in writing such information or explanation within such time as he may specify in

the order.

On the face of it, there is no difficulty to come to the conclusion that as far as membership of the petitioners is concerned, the same is in question

and pending adjudication in the civil court, Admittedly the petitioners themselves filed O.S. No. 216/2005, pending on the file of Sub Judge,

Namakkal challenging the election conducted on 29.5.2003. It is only after the suit is disposed of, the status of the petitioner will be known.

Pending the same, even if arrangements have been made by the Peace Committee, it cannot be said that the petitioners have become the members

of the 4th respondent Society. The membership of the 4th respondent society depends upon the outcome of the civil suit and pending the same, the

petitioners cannot compel the public authorities to invoke his jurisdiction u/s 36 of the Act to conduct an enquiry.

A reference to Section 34 of the Act shows that it does not relate to enquiry regarding functioning of the Society, it only enables the Registrar

to obtain some information or explanation and that power will not enable him to conduct an enquiry.

On the other hand, functioning of the Society can be investigated only u/s 36 of the Act which clearly contemplates that the minimum

requirement is one third of the members of that registered Society.

Considering the above, I am of the considered view that the representation of the petitioners dated 10.10.2007 cannot be permitted to be

enquired into by the District Registrar except leaving the petitioner to wait for the outcome of the suit. Therefore, the writ petition fails and the same

is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, the connected W.P.M.P is closed.

Considering that the suit is of the year 2005, the learned Sub Judge, Namakkal is directed to give priority to O.S. No. 216/2005 and dispose

of the same expeditiously in any event, within a period of six months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

It is made clear that after the suit is disposed of and based on the decision of the suit, it is open to the petitioners to make their representation

to the concerned authorities in respect of functioning of the 4th respondent.