SIRI RAM Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB ETC

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Mandoli Scheduled Castes Land-Owning Cooperative Society, Mandoli (respondent No. 4 and hereinafter referred to as the Society) is a cooperative society which was registered under the Punjab Cooperative Societies Act, II of 1902 (hereinafter called the Act) on the 10th October, 1956. Bye-laws governing the Society have been framed under the Act and bye-law 3 thereof provides :

(2.) At the time of its registration the Society consisted of 11 members belonging to two Scheduled Castes, namely, Balmikis and Ramdasias. Subsequently Ram Lal petitioner No. 2, who is Ramdasia by caste, was enrolled as a member by the Managing Committee of the Society through a resolution dated the 6th of September, 1957, the object of his enrolment being to give equal representation on the Society to the said two Scheduled Castes. Lekhu, who was one of the members of the Society from its inception, passed away and was replaced by his nominee Devi Dayal on the 20th of August, 1965. Another member named Jumma shifted to another village and left the Society and in his place Siri Ram, petitioner No. 1 was enrolled by the Managing Committee through a resolution dated the 20th of April, 1964.

(3.) The Society was allotted 120 bighas of Nazool land in village Mandoli and the same was distributed amongst its members who wee to pay for it in instalments and were to have cultivating possession over it. Out of the said area a field measuring 1-1/2 acres remained undistributed amongst the members and in order to utilise the same, Managing Committee of the Society enrolled another member named Partapa. The strength of the Society thus rose to 13.