MANIPUR OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION Vs. STATE OF MANIPUR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard Mr. N. Ibotombi, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. Ningtamba, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr. M. Rarry, learned senior counsel assisted by Ms. Nikita, learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

(2.) The facts of the present case, in a nutshell, is that under the Rules and Regulations of the Manipur Olympic Association (MOA), the term of the elected office bearers and the members of the Executive Council of the MOA is only for a period of four years. As the term of the last office bearers and members of the Executive Council of MOA, which was elected on 19/8/2018 expired on 18/8/2022, the respondent No. 3 submitted a representation dtd. 7/8/2023 to the Registrar of Societies, Manipur,(respondent No. 2 herein) with a request for holding an election to elect new office bearers and members of the Executive Council of MOA by appointing an independent Returning Officer preferably the Director of the Youth Affairs and Sports.

(3.) As directed by this court and after hearing both the parties, the respondent No. 2 disposed of the said representation by issuing an order dtd. 23/10/2023. By the said order, the respondent No. 2 decided that the election of new office bearers and Executive Council members of MOA should be conducted on or before 30/11/2023 by Ex-Executive Council members of MOA and as such, the Ex-Executive Council Members of MOA were directed to conduct the election of MOA as per Bye-Laws of the society and Manipur Societies Registration Act, 1989 and its Rules. However, as the election could not be held within the stipulated period as directed by the respondent No. 2, an emergency meeting of the Executive Council of the MOA was held on 22/12/2023 and took a resolution for holding the Annual General Meeting of the Association with election of new office bearers and members of the Executive Council of MOA on 14/1/2024. Thereafter, the Ex-Secretary General of MOA wrote a letter dtd. 23/12/2023 to the respondent No. 2 informing the latter about the inability to convene the Annual General Meeting with election of new office bearers and Executive Council members of MOA within the stipulated time and also requesting the respondent No. 2 to consider for allowing the MOA to convene the Annual General Meeting with election of new office bearers and Executive Council members on 14/1/2024. After a few days, the Ex-Secretary General wrote another letter dtd. 26/12/2023 to the respondent No. 2 informing the latter about holding of the Annual General Meeting of the MOA with election of its new office bearers and members of the Executive Council on 14/1/2024 and also requesting to depute two Observers from the office of the respondent No. 2 for attending the said Annual General Meeting with election of new office bearers and members of the Executive Council of MOA.