(1.) By an order dated 8.11.1988, the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Saoner, has passed an order under Section 35(1) of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 (hereinafter referred to as "the said Act"), cancelling the membership of 81 persons in Walni Pardi Majoor Kamgar Sahakari Sanstha. The order was passed after issuance of show cause notice to all those persons. About 35 such members preferred Appeal No. 167 of 2001 under Section 152 of the said Act, challenging the said order after lapse of period of about 13 years. The appeal has been dismissed holding that there is sufficient cause made out for condonation of delay. The relevant consideration in the order passed by the Divisional Joint Registrar is reproduced below;
(2.) The Minister has considered the aspect of delay in its order as under;
(3.) In the application for condonation of delay before the Divisional Joint Registrar under Section 152 of the said Act, the stand was taken by the respondents that it is for the first time in response to Dispute No. 911 of 2000 filed by one Mahipat Bisen Bondre, under Section 91 of the said Act, it was disclosed that 81 members were expelled in the year 1988 and the copy of the order and the list of members was supplied on 9th/10th February, 2001. This fact is not disputed in the reply filed by the petitioners.