PUNE: The deputy registrar of cooperative society in Pune has disbanded the 18-member managing committee of a housing society in Lohegaon for failing to provide access to vital documents, such as audit reports and income-expenditure statements, despite multiple reminders and directives from cooperative officials.
The housing society features 25 residential towers housing 657 members and nearly 1,500 residents. Deputy registrar NV Aghav issued orders on February 27 and March 4, declaring the 18 committee members ineligible for reappointment for five years starting February 27.
A three-member authorized committee, selected from current society members, will oversee daily operations for the next six months or until a new committee is elected, as stated in the March 4 order.
Reshma Vaykar, the society’s former secretary, expressed to TOI, “We believe the disqualification is illegal and we plan to appeal against the decision.”
Kasturi Mukherjee, a society member who filed a complaint with the cooperatives department in 2023, told TOI, “We sought information from the management because we are paying nearly Rs 50,000 annually in maintenance but are not receiving the promised services. Despite being given over two years to comply, they still failed to provide the records.”
Mukherjee stated in her complaint that she requested the society’s audited financial reports and was denied access. This denial occurred despite reminders from cooperative department officials.
The managing committee claimed they had provided most documents to Mukherjee and promised the remaining would be available within a month. However, these documents were never supplied. After reviewing statements from both parties, cooperative officials concluded that the applicant did not receive complete information, thereby confirming the committee members’ default of their duties as outlined in the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act of 1960.
In his final ruling, Aghav cited Bombay High Court decisions affirming that cooperative housing society members possess a legal right to inspect records (including financial audits) under Section 154B-8 (formerly Section 32) of the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act. The court’s ruling suggested that refusing access to such documents legitimizes the disqualification of the managing committee.
