Narayan Ram vs State Of Rajasthan (2024:Rj-Jd:41082)
2024 Latest Caselaw 8781 Raj

Rajasthan High Court - Jodhpur

Narayan Ram vs State Of Rajasthan (2024:Rj-Jd:41082) on 8 October, 2024

Author: Dinesh Mehta

Bench: Dinesh Mehta

[2024:RJ-JD:41082]

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 4851/2023

1. Narayan Ram S/o Sh. Phoosa Ram, Aged About 50 Years, Resident Of Ward No. 1, Chak 8Chd, Tehsil Chhattargarh District Bikaner (Raj.).

2. Harikishan Joshi S/o Sh. Bhalla Ram Joshi, Aged About 80 Years, Resident Of Ward No. 11, Near Balika Vidhyalay, Tehsil Chhattargarh District Bikaner (Raj.).

----Petitioners Versus

1. State Of Rajasthan, Through The Secretary To The Government Department Of Co-Operative, Secretariat, Jaipur.

2. Rajasthan State Cooperative Election Authority, Through Its Registrar, 10 -B Institutional Area, Jhalana Dungari, Jaipur (Raj.).

3. The Registrar, Cooperative Societies Rajasthan, Nehru Sahkar Bhawan, Jaipur.

4. Election Officer, Chhattargarh Kray Vikray Sahkari Samiti Ltd., Chhattargarh District Bikaner (Raj.).

                                                                   ----Respondents


For Petitioner(s)          :     Mr. Divik Mathur for
                                 Mr. B.S. Sandhu
For Respondent(s)          :     Mr. Nathu Singh Rathore, AAG
                                 assisted by Mr. Ravindra Choudhary,
                                 AGC



                       JUSTICE DINESH MEHTA

                                      Order

08/10/2024

1. By way of present writ petition, the petitioners have

challenged the order dated 06.04.2023, whereby proceedings of

elections of the Chhatargarh Kraya Vikraya Sahakari Samiti

Limited, Chhatargarh (hereinafter referred to as 'the Samiti') has

been stayed by the Election Officer.

2. Mr. Divik Mathur, learned counsel for the petitioners

navigated the Court through the relevant clauses of the byelaws of

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (2 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

the Society, more particularly, Clauses 5, 9(4), 9(5)(ii) and 10

thereof and informed that as per Clause 10 of the byelaws, the

Board would comprise of 16 Members, out of which, 7 would be

elected from Primary Co-operative Society, 5 from private

agriculturists/farmers, 3 Members are to be nominated by the

State Government/Registrar and one Member being the Manager

of the Society.

3. Learned counsel then stated that the petitioners had

submitted their nomination for Executive Committee or Members

of the Board of Directors pursuant to election notification dated

22.03.2023 issued by the State Co-operative Election Authority.

4. Learned counsel submitted that list of final electoral was

proposed and published as per the schedule and the nomination

forms were to be submitted at 09:00 a.m. of 06.04.2023. But at

08:00 a.m. of 06.04.2023 abruptly, the elections were stalled by

the respondent No.4 - Election Officer. He argued that once the

election process has been set in motion, the Election Officer or

even the State Government has no jurisdiction or power to stay

the same.

5. He submitted that the respondent No.4 has observed that

Members of (अ) category were not available, while passing the

impugned order, but the elections cannot be stayed for this

reason, more particularly, when sufficient number of

Members/voters of (ब) category were available to elect 5 Members

from their category (ब), as the list of electoral comprised of 92

Members.

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (3 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

6. He argued that if the elections are held as scheduled, 5

Members would be elected from (ब) category followed by 3

nominated Members of State Government and 1 Manager, then, it

would constitute requisite quorum of 9 Members and therefore,

the decision of the Election Officer that requisite quorum would

not be available is factually incorrect.

7. He argued that if the Election Officer was of the view that

requisite number of Members of the Board would not be available,

he could not have stayed the process, as there is no statutory

power or jurisdiction with him to do so. He added that in such

event, the State or the Registrar can exercise the power to

dissolve the Society (if deemed appropriate) on the ground of the

functioning of the Society, but in any case, the election process

which has been initiated could not have been stayed as has been

done in the instant case.

8. Mr. Nathu Singh Rathore, learned Additional Advocate

General appearing for the State submitted that when the final

voter list or electoral was prepared, it transpired that not even a

single voter from (अ) category was available and therefore, it was

impossible to elect requisite 7 Members from Members of (अ)

category and since no Member from (अ) category Members could

be elected which is mandatory to form a valid Board, the Election

Officer had no other option, but to stall the process of election.

9. Learned Additional Advocate General argued that the

petitioners' contention which appear to be legally sound cannot be

accepted, particularly when the constitution of Board itself is in

doubt, as no Member from (अ) category Members could be

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (4 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

elected. He submitted that he would advice the State Government

to undertake election process afresh and in such event, the State

would try to ensure that requisite number of Members/electoral

from (अ) category are available.

10. Heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the

record.

11. It will be relevant to reproduce relevant clauses of the

byelaws:-

"5- lnL;rk

¼1½ lkslk;Vh dh lnL;rk fuEu izdkj gksxh%& Þvß Js.kh ds lnL;& dk;Z{ks= dh izkFkfed d`f'k _.knk=h lgdkjh lfefr;ka ,oa izkFkfed lgdkjh miHkksDrk Hk.Mkj o vU; izkFkfed lgdkjh lfefr;ka Þcß Js.kh ds lnL;& O;fDrxr d`'kd tks fd d`f'k ;ksX; Hkwfe dk /kkjd gks] lkslk;Vh ds dk;Z{ks= esa fuokl djrk gks rFkk ftldh vk;q 18 o'kZ ls de u gks rFkk tks lnL;rk ls lacaf/kr mRrjnkf;Roksa ,oa nkf;Roksa dks Lohdkj djus ds fy, rS;kj gks ,oa lkslk;Vh dh lsokvksa dk mi;ksx djus dk bPNqd gks rFkk lkslk;Vh dh lsokvksa dk U;wure vko";d mi;ksx djus ds laca/k esa fu/kkZfjr ekun.M] ;fn dksbZ gksa] dh ikyuk djus ds fy, izfrc) gksA Þlß Js.kh ds lnL;& ¼d½ jkT; ljdkj ¼[k½ jktLFkku jkT; lgdkjh dz; fodz; la?k fyŒ t;iqj Þnß Js.kh ds lnL;& ¼d½ lgdkjh d`f'k ¼QkfeZx½ lfefr;ka ¼[k½ lgdkjh miHkksDrk gksylsy Hk.Mkj ¼x½ Lok;Rr"kklh laLFkk,sa] fuxe] fudk; vFkok LFkkuh; fudk;] tks vf/kfu;e ,oa fu;eksa ds vUrxZr uksehuy lnL; cuk, tk ldsaxsA ¼?k½ {ks= ds O;kikjh] ftudk lkslk;Vh ls O;kikfjd laca/k gksA Þnß Js.kh ds lnL; uksehuy lnL; gksxsa] ftUgsa er nsus dk vf/kdkj ugha gksxkA

¼2½ izR;sd vkosnu dh lnL;rk xzg.k djus vFkok fgLls [kjhnus ds fy, lkslk;Vh }kjk bl mn~ns"; gsrq fu/kkZfjr QkeZ ij lkslk;Vh dks vkosnu i= izLrqr djuk gksxk ,oa lgdkjh lfefr;ka gksus dh n"kk esa lnL; cuus laca/kh izLrko dh izekf.kr izfrfyfi Hkh layXu djuh gksxhA lnL;rk vkosnu i= ds lkFk vkosnu "kqYd 10 :- ,oa fu/kkZfjr fgLlk jkf"k Hkh tek djkuh gksxhA lnL;rk vkosnu i= ds vk/kkj ij vf/kfu;e ,oa fu;eksa esa fu/kkZfjr izfdz;kuqlkj vkosnd dks lnL;rk iznku dh tkosxhA ¼d½ dksbZ O;fDr lkslk;Vh dh lnL;rk ds ;ksX; ugha gksxk] ;fn og jktLFkku lgdkjh lkslk;Vh vf/kfu;e 2001 dh /kkjk 28 ,oa jktLFkku lgdkjh lkslk;Vh fu;e] 2003 ds fu;e la[;k 16 esa of.kZr fujgZrk,a j[krk gksA ¼[k½ fdlh lnL; dh lnL;rk fuEufyf[kr esa ls fdlh ,d dkj.k ij Lor% lekIr le>h tkosxhA i. mi [k.M ¼d½ esa of.kZr fu;ksZX;rk /kkj.k djus ijA ii. lgdkjh lkslk;Vh dk iath;u jn~n gks tkus ijA

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (5 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

dksbZ lnL; lnL;rk xzg.k djus dh frfFk ls nks o'kZ i"pkr nks ekg dk uksfVl nsdj lnL;rk ls i`Fkd gks ldrk gS] fdarq "krZ ;g gS fd og lkslk;Vh dk _.kh ugha gksA uksfVl dh frfFk ml fnu ls le>h tkosxh] ftl fnu uksfVl lkslk;Vh dks izkIr gksxkA lnL;rk lekfIr ds i"pkr~ fgLlk jkf"k dh okilh mifof/k;ksa ds izko/kku ds vuqlkj gh ns; gksxhA

¼3½ lnL;rk ls i`FkDdj.k dksbZ lnL;] tks mlds }kjk ns; jkf"k ds Hkqxrku esa fujarj pqd djrk jgk gks vFkok tks lapkyd eaMy dh jk; esa lkslk;Vh dh vidhfrZ dk dkj.k jgk gks vFkok ftlus lkslk;Vh ds fgr ds fo#) ;k gkfudkjd dk;Z fd;k gks] bl iz;kstu ds fy, vk;ksftr lkekU; cSBd esa mifLFkr rFkk er nsus ds vf/kdkjh lnL;ksa ls de ls de 3@4 ds cgqer ls ikfjr ladYi }kjk lnL;rk ls fu'dkf"kr fd;k tk ldsxk] fdarq ,slk ladYi rc rd oS/k ugha gksxk] tc rd fd lacaf/kr lnL; dks lk/kkj.k lHkk ds le{k viuk i{k izLrqr djus dk volj ugha ns fn;k tkos rFkk ,slk dksbZ ladYi rc rd izHkkoh ugha gksxk tc rd fd og jftLVªkj] lgdkjh lfefr;ka }kjk vuqeksfnr ugha gks tkosA tc lkslk;Vh dk dksbZ lnL; fdlh vU; lnL; ds fu'dklu ds fy, ladYi izLrqr djus dk izLrko djrk gS rks og lkslk;Vh ds O;oLFkkid dks bldk fyf[kr uksfVl nsxkA ,slk uksfVl izkIr gksus ij ;k Lo;a lapkyd eaMy }kjk ladYi izLrqr djus dk fu.kZ; ysus ij vkxkeh lk/kkj.k lHkk dh dk;Z lwph esa ,slk ladYi fopkj djus ds fy, lfEefyr fd;k tkosxkA ftl lnL; }kjk fu'dklu laca/kh izLrko j[kk x;k gS rFkk ftl lnL; ds fu'dklu ds fy, izLrko gS nksuksa dks lk/kkj.k lHkk dh cSBd esa mifLFkr jgus ds fy, lwpuk nh tkosxhA ;fn lnL; Lo;a mifLFkr gS] dks lquus ds i'pkr~ vFkok fdlh ,sls izfrosnu tks muds }kjk fyf[kr esa Hkstk x;k gks] ij fopkj djus ds mijkUr gh lk/kkj.k lHkk esa izLrko ij fopkj fd;k tkosxkA lk/kkj.k lHkk esa mifLFkr er nsus okys lnL;ksa ds 3@4 cgqer ds ladYi ls ikfjr gks tkus ij ,slk ikfjr ladYi jftLVªkj] lgdkjh lfefr;ka dh Lohd`fr ds fy, Hkstk tkosxkA jftLVªkj] lgdkjh lfefr;ka ,sls ladYi ij fopkj dj ldsxk rFkk ,slh tkap iM+rky tks og Bhd le>s djus ds i'pkr~ viuk vuqeksnu ns ldsaxs rFkk lkslk;Vh ,oa lacaf/kr lnL; dks vius fu.kZ; dh lwpuk nsaxsA jftLVªkj] lgdkjh lfefr;ka] ds vuqeksnu dh frfFk ls gh fu.kZ; izHkkoh ekuk tkosxkA ¼4½ izR;sd i`Fkd fd;k x;k lnL; mlds i`Fkd gksus dh frfFk ls lkslk;Vh dh ftEesnkfj;ksa dks pqdkus ds fy, nks o'kZ rd mRrjnk;h gksxkA ¼5½ lnL;rk laca/kh vf/kdkj lkslk;Vh ds lnL;ksa }kjk vius lnL;rk laca/kh vf/kdkjksa dk iz;ksx rc rd ugha fd;k tk ldsxk] tc rd fd mlds }kjk lkslk;Vh dh lsokvksa dk U;wure mi;ksx djus ds laca/k esa jftLVªkj] lgdkjh lfefr;ka] jktLFkku] t;iqj }kjk fu/kkZfjr ekun.Mksa ds vuqlkj ik=rk vftZr ugha dj yh xbZ gksA

9- lk/kkj.k lHkk ¼4½ 1- lk/kkj.k lHkk dh lwpuk izR;sd lnL; dks 15 fnu iwoZ nh tkosxh] ftlesa fopkj.kh; fo'k;] LFkku] fnukad o le; vkfn dk mYys[k gksxkA mifof/k;ksa esa la"kks/ku ds laca/k esa fo'k; gksus dh n"kk esa ,slh lwpuk ds lkFk mifof/k;ksa esa la"kks/ku dk iwoZ fooj.k Hkh lnL;ksa dh tkudkjh gsrq Hkstuk vko";d gksxkA 2- lnL; jftLVj esa vafdr irs ij iksLVy lfVZfQdsV }kjk lwpuk Hksth tkus ij mDr lwpuk lgh izdkj Hksth gqbZ lwpuk le>h tkosxhA irs esa ifjorZu gksus ij lkslk;Vh dks lwpuk nsuk lnL; dk drZO; gksxkA

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (6 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

3-lk/kkj.k lHkk dh lwpuk ds izlkj.k esa dksbZ lk/kkj.k fuokj.kh; =qfV gksus ls lk/kkj.k lHkk dh dk;Zokgh voS/kkfud ugha gksxhA

¼5½ 1- ---- ---- ---- -----

2- v Js.kh ds lnL;ksa ,oa c Js.kh ds izfrfuf/k lnL;ksa dk 1@5 Hkkx ;k 50 lnL; tks Hkh de gks lk/kkj.k lHkk dh x.kiwfrZ djsxsaA lHkk dh dk;Zokgh izkjEHk gksus ds fuf"pr le; rd x.kiwfrZ u gksus ij dksbZ dk;Zokgh izkjEHk u dh tksoxhA v/;{k ;k vU; fdlh lnL; }kjk tks ml cSBd ds lHkkfir ds fy, pquk x;k gksxkA x.kiwfrZ ds vHkko esa lHkk fuEu n"kkvksa esa LFkfxr dj ldsxk] fdUrq ,slh LFkfxr lHkk 15 fnol esa cqyk;h tkuk vko";d gksxkA v- ;fn lHkk ds fuf"pr le; ds ,d ?kaVs rd x.kiwfrZ u gks ;k c- ;fn lHkk dh dk;Zokgh ds e/; visf{kr x.kiwfrZ de gksus dk Kku gks tkosA

10- lapkyd e.My ¼1½ lkslk;Vh ds lapkyd e.My esa 12 fuokZfpr lnL;ksa lfgr dqy 16 lnL;

gksaxsA lapkyd e.My dk xBu fuEu izdkj gksxk%& ¼d½ d`f'k _+.knk=h lgdkjh lfefr;ksa] izkFkfed lgdkjh miHkksDrk Hk.Mkj o vU; izkFkfed lgdkjh lfefr;ksa ds v/;{kksa esa ls fuokZfpr%& lkr ¼[k½ O;fDrxr d`'kd lnL;ksa vFkok muds fuokZfpr izfrfu/k;ksa ÞMsfyxsV~lß esa ls fuokZfpr%& ik¡p ¼x½ jkT; ljdkj@jftLVªkj }kjk euksuhr lnL;%& rhu ¼?k½ iz/kku O;oLFkkid@O;oLFkkid ¼eq[; dk;Zdkjh½ insu lapkyd%& ,d ¼2½ ¼d½ --------------------------

¼[k½---------------------------

¼x½-----------------------------

¼?k½ ;fn mijksDr fcUnq dzekad ¼d½ ,oa ¼[k½ ij of.kZr vkjf{kr LFkkukssa ij lacaf/kr oxZ ds lnL; fuokZfpr ugha gksrs gSa rks jftLVªkj] lgdkjh lfefr;ka] jktLFkku] t;iqj dks ;g vf/kdkj gksxk fd ;g vuqlwfpr tkfr vFkok vuqlwfpr tutkfr ds lnL;ksa dks] tSlh Hkh fLFkfr gks] lapkyd e.My esa euksuhr dj ldsxkA jftLVªkj }kjk euksuhr lnL;ksa dk dk;Zdky lapkyd e.My ds dk;Zdky ds vuqlkj gh gksxk pkgs ,slk euksu;u fdlh Hkh le; D;ksa u fd;k x;k gksA

(3) ------ ------ ------- ---- ----

(4) ------ ------ ------ ------ -----

(5) lapkyd e.My dh cSBd v- lapkyd e.My dh cSBd dh lwpuk izR;sd lnL; dks fyf[kr :i esa cSBd dh rkjh[k ls de ls de 7 fnu iwoZ nh tkosxh] ijUrq fo"ks'k ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa cSBd dh lwpuk Li'V 24 ?kUVs iwoZ nsdj cqykbZ tk ldsxh] ftlesa fopkj.kh; fo'k;ksa] LFkku] rkjh[k o le; dk mYys[k gksxk] fdUrq fdlh vko";d fo'k; ij tks fopkj.kh; fo'k;ksa esa lfEefyr ugha fd;k x;k gks] mifLFkr lnL;ksa dh jk; ls fopkjkFkZ fy;k tk ldsxkA lkslk;Vh ds v/;{k- lapkyd e.My dh cSBd dh v/;{krk djsaxsA v/;{k dh vuqifLFkfr esa dksbZ Hkh O;fDr tks bl cSBd dh v/;{krk ds fy, fuokZfpr fd;k tkos v/;{krk djsxkA lapkyd e.My dh x.kiwfrZ 9 lnL;ks dh gksxhA ;fn lapkyd e.My dh cSBd inkf/kdkfj;ksa ds fuokZpu gsrq jktLFkku jkT; lgdkjh fuokZpu izkf/kdkjh

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (7 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

}kjk fu;qDr fuokZpu vf/kdkjh }kjk lh fof"k'V iz;kstu gsrq vkgwr dh xbZ gks rks izcU/k lfefr dh ,slh cSBd esa lnL;ksa dh x.kiwfrZ gksuk vko";d ugha gksxkA lapkyd e.My dh cSBd esa izR;sd fopkj.kh; fo'k; dk fu.kZ; cgqer ls fd;k tk,xkA cjkcj er gksus dh n"kk esa v/;{k rFkk vU; O;fDr dks tks ml fnu cSBd dk lHkkifrRo djsxk dks viuk fu.kkZ;d vFkok f}rh; fu.kkZ; er nsus dk vf/kdkj gksxkA lapkyd eaMy dh cSBd izR;sd rhu ekg esa de ls de ,d ckj vo";

cqyk;h tkosxhA c- Li'V nl fnu iwoZ v/;{k dks lwpuk Hkstdj dksbZ Hkh ukS lapkyd ¼lnL;½ lapkyd e.My dk fo"ks'k vf/kos"ku cqykus gsrq fuosnu dj ldsaxsA izkFkZuk i= izkIr gksrs gh O;oLFkkid cSBd cqykus dh dk;Zokgh djsaxsA l- fo"ks'k cSBd dh ekax gsrq vk;s gq, vkosnu i= esa dkj.k dk Li'Vr;k mYys[k gksxk rFkk vkosnu ij ekax djus okys lnL;ksa ds gLrk{kj gksxs ,oa ;g lkslk;Vh ds jftLVMZ irs ij izLrqr fd;k tkosxkA bl fo"ks'k cSBd dh lwpuk esa vafdr fo'k;ksa ij gh fopkj fd;k tkosxkA

¼6½ ----- ------ ------ ------- Þ

12. It is not in dispute that the constitution of Board requires 7

Members from (अ) category and as per the electoral prepared,

there is no Member from (अ) category and therefore, election to

the post of Board of Directors from the Members of (अ) category

is impossible.

13. But then, the question arises as to whether the election

process can be stalled at the eleventh hour? According to this

Court, the answer is a clear NO.

14. This Court is of the considered view that the election process

once triggered cannot be stalled, except in the event (natural

calamity/breakdown of law and order) envisaged under section

34(6) of the Rajasthan Co-operative Societies Act, 2001

(hereinafter referred to as 'the Act of 2001'). Admittedly none of

the eventuality mentioned in section 34(6) of the Act of 2001 is

prevailing.

15. When the legislature has not conceived the situation like the

one in hand for the purpose of staying the election, the Election

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (8 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

Officer cannot clothe himself with the power which is not

otherwise conferred upon him - he cannot abort the process of

election abruptly.

16. On the facts, may be the arguments advanced by learned

Additional Advocate General appears to be attractive that there

would be no Member from (अ) category in the Board of Directors,

but if the byelaws of the Society are taken into account, it

provides that 7 Members would be from out of (अ) category. But

when no Members or requisite numbers of Members from (अ)

category are not available, it cannot be said that the very

constitution of the Board is vitiated.

17. True it is that, there is no Member from (अ) category so far

as electoral is concerned. But had there been less Members than 7

Members of category (अ) and all of them could be elected as

Members of the Board then, in such event, the Members of the

Board from (अ) category Members would obviously be less than 7.

Could Election Officer stall the process! - Certainly not.

18. Such being the position, this Court is of the view that simply

because the possibility of filling of the vacant posts from particular

category is bleak or nil, the election process cannot be stalled or

withdrawn.

19. The situation as contemplated by respondent No.4 that the

quorum will not be complete or there would be no Member from

Members of category (अ), may be compared by a situation as

envisaged in section 30(1)(b) of the Act of 2001, but then in such

event, the separate proceedings are required to be taken up by

the Zonal Registrar or the Registrar as the case may be but the

[2024:RJ-JD:41082] (9 of 9) [CW-4851/2023]

Election Officer cannot preempt the situation by deferring the

elections.

20. In view of what has been discussed above and following the

judgment dated 17.05.2022, passed at Jaipur Bench in a bunch of

writ petitions led by S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 9754/2021 (Dugdh

Utpadak Sahakari Samiti Ltd. Vs. The State of Rajasthan & Ors.),

this Court is firmly of the view that the election process once

notified, cannot be stopped in a midway.

21. The present writ petition is, therefore, allowed.

22. The impugned notice/order dated 06.04.2023, is hereby

quashed and set aside.

23. The Election Officer - respondent No.4 is directed to re-

notifiy the date of holding election within a period of 15 days from

today.

24. Needless to observe that the elections will be held on the

basis of the electoral/final voter list published on 03.04.2023

(Annexure-4) and that too from the stage of filing nomination

forms - the point where the elections were stayed.

25. It is hereby made clear that after the election process is

concluded and the State/competent authority finds that the

functioning of the Society is not possible or there is a statement in

the constitution or functioning of the Society, they shall be free to

take appropriate proceeding in accordance with law.

26. The stay application also stands disposed of, accordingly.

(DINESH MEHTA),J 11-akansha/-

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