M RANGA REDDY Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These Writ Appeals are but links in a chain of writ petitions filed in this court to compel the Government and its officers to hold elections to the Committees of 7,000 primary Level Co-operative Societies in this State. The prayer in these writ petitions is no doubt different, but they manifest the ongoing struggle between the societies and the State.

(2.) Among the several categories of societies, Credit Societies constitute one category. These credit Societies cater to the needs of agriculturists all over the State. Until recently there were two types of Credit Societies one for extending short term and the other for long-term loans. Primary agricultural Co-operative Societies about 7,000 in number provide short term credit to their members. Above these Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies were 27,000 District Co-operative Central Banks, with the State Co-operative Central Bank at the apex. So far as long-term credits are concerned there were Primary Agricultural Land Mortgage Banks, which were subsequently designated as primary Agricultural Development Banks. They are 218 in number, and mostly they operate at Taluk level. Above these 218 Agricultural Development Banks was the State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank the Apex Bank.

(3.) Elections to Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies were held in 1981. The term of the committees elected was three years, which was expiring in 1984. On 4-8-1984 the Government issued a Memo No. 41090 (Co-op), directing the conduct of elections to elect new committees. On 20-9-1984, however, the Registrar of Co-operative Societies telegraphically instructed all the Collectors to appoint 'Official persons in charge' in place of elected committees, in as much as the term of the elected committee is over. These instructions were challenged by several societies in this court by way of Writ Petitions. This court suspended the said instructions. Thereupon, the Government issued G.O.Ms. No. 1614 dated 9-4-1984 extending the term of the managing committees of various societies for a period of three months. This period was extended further by another three months in G.O. Rt.No. 2029, dated 24-12-1984.