DHUMAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner was working as the Secretary of the Khera Gajju Cooperative Agricultural Service Society Limited (hereafter to be referred as the 'Society'). The Society raised a dispute for the recovery of an amount of Rs. 11,582.96 against the petitioner. This dispute was referred to the Assistant Registrar, Cooperative Societies for arbitration. The petitioner pleaded that he had given an amount of Rs. 16,000/ - to Amar Singh, the former Vice President of the Society. He even produced a receipt to support the submission. On this basis, the petitioner claimed that he was not liable to pay the amount. After consideration of the matter, the Arbitrator found that the petitioner had withdrawn an amount of Rs. 6746.02 from the accounts of the Society. Thereafter he had withdrawn another amount of Rs. 4836.96. Thus, he was liable to pay the amount of Rs. 11,582.96. A copy of the award dated December 18, 1991 has been produced as Annexure P2. Aggrieved by the award, the petitioner filed an appeal. It was dismissed vide order dated November 13, 1995. Still not satisfied, the petitioner filed a revision petition before the Government. It was heard by the Joint Secretary Cooperation. Vide order dated November 10, 1998, the revision petition was dismissed. Copies of the orders passed by the Appellate and Revisional Authorities have been produced as Annexures P3 and P4 respectively. The petitioner alleges that these orders are illegal. Thus, he prays that the award as well as the orders passed by the Appellate and Revisional Authorities (copies of which are at Annexures P2 to P4) be quashed.

(2.) A written statement has been filed on behalf of the respondents. The claim made by the petitioner has been controverted.

(3.) SECTION 54 of the Act provides as under: -