Mumbai Housing Society Members Disqualified For 5 Years

The Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, K/East Division, Mumbai, has disqualified eight managing committee members of Green Acres Co-operative Housing Society in Andheri East for five years. The order was passed under Section 154B-23(1)(iii) of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, following a complaint by society member Alex Noronha.

The dispute concerned Noronha’s demand for various records and documents from the society. Noronha had sought information on 10 issues, including minutes and notices of managing committee meetings between January 2022 and April 2025, correspondence between the society and the Deputy Registrar’s office, and details of various society matters.

The Deputy Registrar had initially directed the society on September 22, 2025, to provide the requested documents within 45 days after charging the applicable fees. However, the authority noted that the society failed to comply with the direction. A certified auditor, Satish Kakade, was appointed as an authorised officer to facilitate the furnishing of the documents from the society’s records.

Despite this, the authority found that the society had provided only some of the information. The order records that, except for certain documents relating to managing committee minutes and financial records, information sought on most of the 10 points had not been furnished.

The society argued that the member had not explained why he required the documents and that he had paid only Rs 500 towards copying charges, with another Rs 1,440 allegedly pending. It also cited administrative difficulties and other issues faced by the society.

Rejecting these grounds, the Deputy Registrar observed that Section 154B-8 of the Act gives members the right to inspect and obtain copies of specified society records. The authority further noted that the provision does not require a member to state the purpose for which the information is being sought.

The order also referred to a Bombay High Court ruling which held that providing information to a member under Section 154B-8 is not discretionary but a mandatory responsibility of the society’s managing committee. The Deputy Registrar found that the managing committee had failed to provide the requested information despite directions from the authority.

The disqualified members include Vinod Patrikar, Sudhir Patil, and six others. The order is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the society members and the managing committee.

The Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960, is a legislation that governs the functioning of cooperative societies in the state. The Act provides for the rights and responsibilities of society members, including the right to inspect and obtain copies of society records.

The Deputy Registrar’s order is a reminder to society members and managing committees of the importance of transparency and accountability in the functioning of cooperative societies. The order also highlights the need for society members to be aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Act.

In recent years, there have been several instances of disputes between society members and managing committees in Mumbai. The Deputy Registrar’s order is a significant development in this context, as it underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the functioning of cooperative societies.

The order is also a reminder to society members to be vigilant and proactive in seeking information and exercising their rights under the Act. By doing so, society members can help ensure that their societies are managed in a transparent and accountable manner.

In conclusion, the Deputy Registrar’s order disqualifying the eight managing committee members of Green Acres Co-operative Housing Society is a significant development in the ongoing dispute between the society members and the managing committee. The order highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the functioning of cooperative societies and underscores the need for society members to be aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Act.