Lalan Kumar Singh vs The State Of Bihar
2023 Latest Caselaw 4203 Patna

          IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                     Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.12559 of 2023

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1. Lalan Kumar Singh, Son of Mahendra Singh, Resident of Village-Gonpura, Alampur, P.O.-Alampur, Gonpura, P.S.-Phulwarisharif, District-Patna.

2. Dinesh Sharma, Son of Jaleshwar Sharma, resident of Village-Hulas Chak Sorampur, P.S.-Janipur, P.O.-Sorampur, District-Patna (Bihar).

... ... Petitioner/s Versus

1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Co-operative Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

2. The Principal Secretary, Co-operative Department, Govt. of Bihar, Patna.

3. The Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bihar, Patna.

4. The Assistant Registrar, Co-operative Societies, Bihar, Patna.

5. The District Co-operative Officer, Patna.

6. The Election Officer (Sahyog Samiti) Vyapar Mandal, Phulwarisharif-cum-

Block Development Officer, Phulwarisharif, Patna.

7. The Block Co-operative Officer, Phulwarisharif, Patna.

8. The Bihar State Election Authority through Chief Election Officer, Patna.

9. The Chief Election Officer, Bihar State Election Authority, Patna.

10. The Secretary, Bihar State Election Authority, Patna.

11. The Advisor, Bihar State Election Authority, Patna.

12. Shailendra Kumar, Son of Late Rajendra Prasad Singh, Resident of Village-

Kurkuri, P.s.-Phulwarisharif, District-Patna (Bihar).

... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== Appearance :

For the Petitioner/s : Ms. Nivedita Nirvikar, Sr. Adv.

Mr. Ranjeet Kumar, Adv.

Mr. Ayush Kumar Adv.

Ms. Shashi Priya Adv.

     For the State                 :       Mr. Mahendra Prasad Verma,
                                           AC to SC-20
     For the Election Authority    :       Mr. Mukesh Kumar Thakur, Adv.

====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HARISH KUMAR ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 01-09-2023 Patna High Court CWJC No.12559 of 2023 dt.01-09-2023

Heard Ms. Nivedita Nirvikar, learned senior counsel

for the petitioners duly assisted by Mr. Ranjeet Kumar, learned

counsel and Mr. Mukesh Kumar Thakur, learned counsel for the

State Election Authority. The State is represented by Mr.

Mahendra Prasad Verma, learned AC to SC-20.

2. By invoking the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of

this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the

petitioners have filed the present writ application seeking

following relief(s):-

"(i) For setting aside the order dated 17.08.2023 contained in Memo No. 1631 dated 17.08.2023 passed by Chief Election Officer, Bihar State Election Authority to the extent, the said authority has directed for holding of election on the basis of the voter list of the year 2017 granted liberty to the petitioners to seek remedy in terms of Section 48 of the Cooperative Society Act, before the competent authority to resolve the membership dispute.

(ii) For issuance of direction to the respondent Bihar State Election authority to not hold election of Phulwarisharif Vyapar Mandal, until the Membership Dispute Case No. 104 of 2023 filed by the petitioners before the Registrar Cooperative in the light of aforementioned liberty is decided, as the petitioners soon after receipt of the aforementioned impugned order dated 17.08.2023 Patna High Court CWJC No.12559 of 2023 dt.01-09-2023

filed the Membership Dispute Case on 25.08.2023 itself without any delay.

(iii) For any other relief for which the petitioners may be deemed entitled too."

3. Learned senior counsel for the petitioners

contended that the petitioners and 78 similarly situated other

persons were the bonafide Members of Phulwarishrif Vyapar

Mandal since 1988. However, all on a sudden in the year 2017,

their names have been illegally removed from the voter list. On

being aggrieved, when the petitioners approached before the

authorities concerned and filed their objection, their names have

been included in the voter list of 2022. However, again without

giving any notice or opportunity of hearing, their names have

been removed from the voter list, pursuant to the order

contained in Memo No.250 dated 31.01.2023. Despite objection

being raised before all the higher authorities of Bihar State

Election Authority, when no succor was made, the petitioners

left with no option but to approach this Court i.e. C.W.J.C. No.

2083 of 2023. The learned Division Bench of this Court taking

note of the submissions made on behalf of the parties, relegated

the matter to the State Election Authority to take final decision

with respect of genuineness of the claim of the petitioners and

other similarly situated persons and further be pleased to extend Patna High Court CWJC No.12559 of 2023 dt.01-09-2023

the dates of election till completion of the enquiry and

consequent decision.

4. Learned senior counsel further contended that in

deference to the order of this Court, the petitioners approached

before the State Election Authority, however, as under the

statute, the State Election Authority is not the competent

authority to decide the question of Membership with regard to

inclusion or exclusion of their names from the voter list, finally,

the State Election Authority came out with an order as contained

in Memo No. 1631 dated 17.08.2023 holding that the issue with

regard to the grievance of the petitioners cannot be entertained

by the State Election Authority as the petitioners have other

statutory remedy as provided under the Bihar Co-operative

Societies Act, 1935, especially in terms of Section 48 of the said

Act. The petitioners, thereafter, immediately preferred appeal

before the Registrar Co-operative Societies being Membership

Dispute No.104 of 2023 on 25.08.2023 itself. In the aforesaid

premise, she vehemently contended that as the date of the

Cooperative Election has been scheduled to be held on 4 th of

September, 2023, the petitioners have left with no option but to

mention the matter for urgent hearing, thereby the matter has

been placed before the Court out of turn hearing. Patna High Court CWJC No.12559 of 2023 dt.01-09-2023

5. On the other hand, learned counsel for the State

Election Authority submitted that the petitioners themselves

responsible for their fault as they have approached before the

authority, who was not even competent to decide the issue and

for which the respondents cannot be blamed, as ignorance of

law cannot be an excuse. He further submitted that now the

date of the cooperative election has already been notified and

any order extending it, would cause prejudice to all the

members of the society. He also submitted that so far the right to

vote is concerned, it is not a constitutional right rather it is a

statutory right provided under the Bihar Co-operative Societies

Act, 1935.

6. Having heard the parties and considering the fact

that pursuant to the order of this Court dated 10.02.2023 passed

in C.W.J.C. No. 2083 of 2023, the petitioners had approached

before the State Election Authority, that was not the competent

authority and having conversant with the order of the State

Election Authority, the petitioners immediately approached

before the Registrar Cooperative Societies by filing

Membership Dispute No. 104 of 2023, which is pending

consideration.

7. In view thereof, this Court directs the respondent Patna High Court CWJC No.12559 of 2023 dt.01-09-2023

no.3, Registrar Cooperative Societies, Bihar, Patna, to take up

the issue raised in Membership Dispute No. 104 of 2023

immediately and decide the issue, as early as possible,

preferably before ensuing cooperative election scheduled to be

held on 04.09.2023.

8. It is needless to observe that if the petitioners

approach the respondent no.3, Registrar Cooperative Societies,

Bihar, Patna, with the present order, he will take up the matter

and act upon it forthwith and if their claims are found fit, he will

pass an appropriate reasoned order in accordance with law.

rohit/-                                           (Harish Kumar, J)
AFR/NAFR                NAFR
CAV DATE                NA
Uploading Date          01-09-2023
Transmission Date