Bombay High Court
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vividh ... vs Shri. Shahaji Harishchandra Rajole And ... on 7 May, 2025
Author: A. S. Chandurkar
Bench: A. S. Chandurkar
2025:BHC-AS:22179
904-wp-3921-2023.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO.3919 OF 2023
Mulmukai Vividh Karyakari Sahakari
Sanstha Maryadit & Anr. ...Petitioners
Versus
Bharat Khanderao Jagtap & Ors ..Respondents
WITH
INTERIM APPLICATION NO.1342 OF 2024
Gokul Babanrao Gite & Anr. ... Applicants-
Interveners
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3921 OF 2023
Chandori Vividh Karyakari Sahakari Seva
Sanstha Maryadit & Anr ...Petitioners
Versus
Arun Eknath Gadakh & Ors ..Respondents
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3923 OF 2023
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vividh
Karyakari ...Petitioners
Sahakari Seva Sanstha Maryadit & Anr
Versus
Shahaji Harishchandra Rajole & Ors ..Respondents
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3924 OF 2023
Late Shankarrao Shinde Vividh Karyakari
Sahakari Seva Sanstha Maryadit & Anr ...Petitioners
Sudam Karbhari Kale & Ors ..Respondents
WITH
Shivgan 1/7
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WRIT PETITION NO.3925 OF 2023
Saptashrungi Vividh Karyakari Sahakari
Seva Sanstha Maryadit & Anr ...Petitioners
Versus
Bharat Trimbak Sonavane & Ors ..Respondents
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3926 OF 2023
Saptashrungi Mahila Vividh Karyakari
Sahakari Seva Sanstha Maryadit & Anr ...Petitioners
Versus
Mohan Shivaji Bankar & Ors ..Respondents
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3931 OF 2023
Priyanka Chandan Khode & Ors ...Petitioners
Versus
Honorable Minister for State, Co-operation ..Respondents
& Ors
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3932 OF 2023
Nandu Yashwant Sangle & Ors ...Petitioners
Versus
Honorable Minister for State, Co-operation ..Respondents
& Ors
WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3934 OF 2023
Dagu Laxman Jagtap & Ors ...Petitioners
Versus
Honorable Minister for State, Co-operation ...Respondents
& Ors
Shivgan 2/7
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WITH
WRIT PETITION NO.3936 OF 2023
Miss. Kalavati Vasant Jadhav & Ors ...Petitioners
Versus
Honorable Minister for State, Co-operation ...Respondents
& Ors
.....
Mr. Sugandh Deshmukh a/w Mr. Aniket Kanawade for the petitioner in
WP Nos.3931/2023, 3932/2023, 3934/2023 & 3936/2023.
Mr. P.N.Joshi a/w Mr.Pratik Rahade for the petitioner in WP
Nos.3919/2023, 3921/2023, 3923/2023, 3924/2023, 3925/2023 &
3926/2023.
Mr. Nitin Gaware Patil for the respondent no.2,6 & 7 in WP/3919/2023.
Mr. Vaibhav Thorave for the respondent no.14, 18, 19, 23, 25, 27 to 32,
34 to 44, 46, 47, 52 to 70, 74, 76 to 80, 82 to 85, 89, 96 to 99 & 101 in
WP/3919/2023.
Mr. Irvin D'souza for the respondent no.11 in WP/3919/2023 & for the
resondent no.7 in WP/3926/2023.
Mr. N.C.Walimbe, Addl.GP a/w Mrs. D.S.Deshmukh, AGP for the
respondent-State in WP/3919/2023.
Mr. S.P.Kamble, AGP for the respondent-State in WP/3925/2023.
Mrs. Reeena A Salunkhe, AGP for the respondent-State in
WP/3921/2023.
Mrs. Ashwini A.Purav, AGP for the respondent-State in WP/3926/2023.
Mr. P.G.Sawant, AGP for the respondent-State in WP/3924/2023.
Mr. S.B.Kalel, AGP for the respondent-State in WP/3923/2023.
Mr. N.C.Walimbe, Addl.GP a/w Mr.S.P.Kamble, AGP for the respondent-
State in WP Nos.3931/2023, 3932/2023, 3934/2023 & 3936/2023.
Mr.Kantilal D.Gaikwad, Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Society,
Niphad, Dist.Nashik present in Court.
.....
Shivgan 3/7
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CORAM : A. S. CHANDURKAR &
DR. NEELA GOKHALE, JJ.
DATE : 7th MAY 2025.
ORAL JUDGMENT : { Per A.S. Chandurkar, J. }
1 Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith and heard the learned
counsel for the parties.
2 The challenge raised in these Writ Petitions is to the order
dated 21st March 2023 passed by the Hon'ble Minister of Co-
operation under Section 152 of the Maharashtra Co-operative
Societies Act, 1960 (for short, 'said Act'). By the said order, the
Appeals preferred by the Respondent Nos.3 to 10 were allowed and
the order dated 23rd December 2022 passed by the Divisional Joint
Registrar under Section 21-A of the said Act came to be set aside.
The Divisional Joint Registrar had rejected the application seeking
de-registration of the existing Societies.
3 The principal grievance raised by the learned counsel for the
Petitioners is that in the aforesaid Appeals, the present Petitioners
and other members of the Co-operative Society were arrayed as
Respondents. However, without serving any notice to them, the
Appeals were allowed and the order dated 23rd December 2022
904-wp-3921-2023.doc
that was operating in their favour came to be set aside. Referring
to the provisions of Section 21A of the said Act, it is submitted
that for the purposes of de-registration of a co-operative society,
an opportunity of being heard has to be granted to the Chief
Promoter, Managing Committee and the members of the Society.
As the Petitioners who were members of the Society were not put
to notice in the Appeals, the impugned order was liable to be set
aside.
4. Time was granted to the learned Additional Government
Pleader to obtain necessary instructions by an order dated 5 th May
2025. Today, the learned Additional Government Pleader, on
instructions, submits that the Department of Co-operation,
Mantralaya, Mumbai had directed the local authorities under the
said Act to serve such notices on members of the Society. The
Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Niphad, District:
Nashik has accordingly furnished instructions to the learned
Additional Government Pleader stating that such notices were
issued only to the Promoters of the societies and their Chairman.
The communication dated 7th May 2025 containing such
instructions is taken on record and marked 'A' for Identification.
5. It thus becomes clear that before the impugned order dated
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21st March 2023 was passed in the Appeals, the Petitioners were
not heard. The order passed in their favour by the Divisional Joint
Registrar was set aside in appeal without hearing them. On this
count, the impugned order suffers from breach of principles of
natural justice and hence, is unsustainable. It would therefore, be
necessary to set aside the impugned order and remand the
proceedings for fresh consideration in accordance with law.
6. For the aforesaid reasons, the following order is passed:
(i) The order dated 21st March 2023 passed by the
Hon'ble Minister of Co-operation under Section
152 of the said Act in each writ petition is set
aside.
(ii) The proceedings are remanded to the State
Government for fresh consideration to be decided
in accordance with law.
(iii) Though the impugned orders passed in the
respective appeals are dated 21st March 2023,
considering the passage of time, the position as
prevailing today shall be maintained till the
Appeals are decided afresh by the Hon'ble Minister.
The parties would be governed by final
adjudication of the appeals.
(iv) The appeals be decided expeditiously and
904-wp-3921-2023.doc
preferably within a period of three months from
the date of receiving a copy of this order.
(v) It is clarified that contentions of all the parties are
kept open.
7. Rule is made absolute in aforesaid terms with no order as to
costs. Pending Interim Application is also disposed of.
(DR. NEELA GOKHALE, J.) (A. S. CHANDURKAR, J.)
Digitally
signed by
SHAMBHAVI
SHAMBHAVI NILESH
NILESH SHIVGAN
SHIVGAN Date:
2025.05.23
11:51:58
+0530
