MANNOOLAL DESHMUKH Vs. N L SHRIVASTAVA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a writ petition by Mannoolal Deshmukh challenging the programme determined for the election of the Board of Directors to respondent No. 2 Durg district Birendra Central Co-operative Bank Ltd. , Durg (hereinafter referred to as the Society ). Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has raised three points on which he contends that the notice and the programme for the elections are invalid. The first contention raised by learned counsel is that the Society has not complied with the provisions of Rule 40 of the M. P. Co-operative Societies Rules, 1962, framed under the M. P. Co-operative Societies Act, 1960, inasmuch as the bye-laws of the Society do not provide as to whether all the members of the society will vote for electing representatives of particular groups of societies or the election of a representative of a group of societies will be held on votes of the members of that group of societies alone. Rule 40 is as follows:-"40 (1) A society may, for the purpose of election of the members to its committee divide its membership into different groups on a territorial or any other basis. (2) The bye-laws of such a society 'may specify, the number or proportion of the members of the committee who may be elected to represent' each such group on the committee and may specify further mat such representatives may be elected- (a) by all the members of the society; or (b) by only that particular group of members of the society to which such representatives belong. " from the above rule it is clear that sub-rule (1) provides for grouping of societies for the purposes of representation and sub-rule (2) provides for bye-laws for voting at the election of such representatives. The relevant bye-law of the Society for this purpose is bye-law 20. The second clause of this bye-law is as follows:-"20 (2) The other members of the Board shall be elected at a meeting of the General Body as follows:-- (i) Thirteen Directors representing the agricultural credit societies including village service societies. . . . . * * * * *" since the contest in this case is regarding the election of these thirteen Directors only, the rest: of the bye-law is not relevant. Under this bye-law the provision is that the representatives of the thirteen societies will be elected at a meeting of the general body. Without more, the provision is quite clear that all the members attending the general meeting will have a right to vote. If there is no restriction to voting, the right of vote cannot be denied to any member. This bye-law, therefore, is in accordance with Clause (a) of Sub-rule (2) of Rule 40, and we do not agree with the contention of learned counsel for the petitioner that the bye-laws regarding the voting are not clear and do not provide for voting either by all the members of the Society or by the members of that group alone for which a representative has to be elected.

(2.) LEARNED counsel contended that in the past elections of representatives were held in groups and only the societies comprised in one group elected their own representative. We are not concerned with the past practice. We have to see whether the present scheme of the elections is according to the bye-law and the rules made under the M. P. Co-operative Societies Act. The notice of the meeting for electing these members is Annexure 'c' to the petition. It clearly provides for a general meeting to be held on 25th February 1969 for the election of these members. There is, therefore, a clear indication that these members will be, elected by the whole body. We see no force in this contention.

(3.) THE second contention raised by learned counsel for the petitioner is that the notice of the meeting was not sufficient notice as provided by bye-law 16 of this society. Bye-law 16 provides:-" at least a fortnight's clear notice of the general meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting. . . . . " the contention of learned counsel is that in this case the notice did not give clear 14 days. In the petition (paragraph 6 (3)) it has been stated that the notices were despatched on the llth February 1969. In the return it has been stated that the notices were despatched on the Gth and 8th February, 3969. Since the notice itself is dated 11th January 1969, we are satisfied that the statement contained in the return is more reliable than that contained in the petition. Having drawn up the notice on 30th January, 1969, it is not understandable why it could have been delayed up to llth February for despatch. We, therefore, see no force in this contention either.