R.Ashok v. The State Of Tamilnadu
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 22.01.2026
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KRISHNAN RAMASAMY W.P.(MD)No.1579 of 2026 and W.M.P.(MD)Nos.1244, 1245 & 1247 of 2026 R.Ashok ... Petitioner Vs 1.The State of Tamil Nadu, Represented by The District Collector, Madurai District, Madurai.
2.The President, Tamil Nadu Shooting Association, No.151, Kamarajar Road, Madurai - 625 009.
3.The President, Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai Rifle Club, Race Course Road, Madurai.
4.Ms.R.Rajeshwari, Deputy Commissioner of Police, The Election Officer cum Returning Officer, The Madurai Rifle Club, Race Course Road, Madurai - 625 007.
... Respondents Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, calling for the entire records pertaining to the impugned election notification passed by the 3rd 1/8
respondent Madurai Rifle Club, dated 06.12.2025 and set aside the same and consequently directing the 3rd respondent to issue a fresh election notification and giving fair opportunity to all the members to participate in the said election and contesting suitable post within a time stipulation as fixed by this Court.
For Petitioner : Mr.S.Balaji For Respondents : Mrs.K.Malathi, Addl.Govt. Pleader for R1 Mr.A.Albert James, Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side) for R3 Mr.S.Thirunavukkarasu, for Intervenor
O R D E R
This Writ Petition is filed challenging the impugned election notification passed by the 3rd respondent Madurai Rifle Club, dated 06.12.2025 and seeking for a consequential direction, directing the 3rd respondent to issue a fresh election notification and give fair opportunity to all the members to participate in the said election and contesting suitable post.
2. By consent, this Writ Petition is taken up for final disposal at the admission stage itself. Since no adverse order is going to be passed against the respondents 2 and 4, notice to them is dispensed with. 2/8
3. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that initially "Madurai Rifle Club" (hereinafter referred to as "the Club") was registered with the Registrar of Societies in the year 1997 under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 as Registration No.45/1997. Thereafter, due to the non filing of the returns, the Club declared as defunct in the year 2010 and upto 2025, it was functioned as defunct Club.
4. Thereafter, the Club was registered afresh before the Registrar on 23.10.2025 with 460 members. Subsequently, first General Body Meeting was convened on 22.11.2025 and in the said meeting, according to the petitioner, minutes of the said meeting was not properly given and only 60 members were present out of the 460 members. Therefore, according to the petitioner, the General Body Meeting was not properly convened and any decision taken in the General Body Meeting shall not be implemented and based on the said General Body Meeting, now they have issued the election notification on 06.12.2025 and decided to conduct election on 24.01.2026.
5. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would further submit that for the past 14 years, the books of account and 3/8
balance sheet of the said Club was not produced. Further he would submit that there is lot of misappropriation of funds taken place. Under these circumstances, if the election is allowed to be held, it will be lead to the further misappropriation of funds and further mismanagement of the affairs of the Club. Therefore, the petitioner has filed this Writ Petition.
6. Mr.S.Thirunavukarasu, who wanted to implead him as one of the respondents, also supporting the views of the petitioner. He would submit that in the General Body Meeting, no accounts was submitted and decision was taken only by showing of hands and no poll was conducted. Therefore, he is also of the view that election shall not be go on.
7. On the other hand, the learned Additional Government Pleader appearing for the first respondent would submit that in the Club there were 460 members, the said Club was registered afresh on 23.10.2025 and thereafter, first General Body Meeting was convened on 22.11.2025 and based on the decision taken in the said General Body Meeting, election notification was issued on 06.12.2025 to conduct election on 24.01.2026. She would further submit that notices have been 4/8
sent to all the 460 members by way of speed post and she has produced the receipt obtained from the postal department. Therefore, she would submit that there is no question of irregularities in conducting the election. If at all the petitioner has any grievance, he can make a complaint before the Registrar of Societies or he can bring the same into the General Body Meeting in accordance with law. Therefore, she prays for dismissal of this Writ Petition.
8. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.
9. On a perusal of the records it is seen that election is scheduled to be held on 24.01.2026, for which notification was issued on 06.12.2025. There is no dispute with regard to the receipt of election notice by the petitioner as well as Mr.Thirunavukkarasu. Both parties have already been received the notice. The main grievance of the petitioner is that the accounts of the Club for the past 14 years have not been submitted and there was misappropriation of funds and also there was mismanagement. Further, the General Body Meeting was not properly convened on 22.11.2025, only 60 members were present out of 460 members and no poll was conducted for taking decision. 5/8
10. As far as the above said grievance of the petitioner is concerned, this Court is of the view that the petitioner can very well approach the members of the General Body, where he can address his all grievances including the mismanagement in the affairs of the Club. As per Clause 16 of the By-Laws, the General Body can power to convene a Special General Meeting and in the said Meeting they can take any resolution for removal of the newly office bearers. Therefore, if the petitioner has any grievance with regard to convening and conducting of the meeting, mismanagement of the affairs, misappropriation of amount, extension of the club license and non production of books of accounts and balance sheet, all the issues can very well be brought into the knowledge of the General Body members.
In the event, if the General Body Meeting is convened, the petitioner can address his grievance by getting support from the majority of the members. Therefore, the petitioner can address his grievance only in the manner narrated above and not by virtue of approaching this Court, since the petitioner has a remedy as per by-laws of the Club.
11. In the event, if the petitioner is not interested to approach his own members viz., members of the General Body, then he can very 6/8
well raise all the issues to the Registrar of Societies in terms of Section 36 of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975. In the event, if the petitioner is not interested to approach the Registrar, then he can very well agitate the issue before the Civil Court. Even though all the above remedies are available, ignoring all these alternative remedies, the petitioner has approached this Court, which is not proper and it will be lead to multiplicity of litigation alone. Therefore, this Court is not inclined to entertain the Writ Petition and the same is liable to be dismissed.
12. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.
22.01.2026 vsm Index : Yes/No NCC : Yes/No 7/8
KRISHNAN RAMASAMY, J.
vsm To 1.The District Collector, State of Tamil Nadu, Madurai District, Madurai.
2.The President, Tamil Nadu Shooting Association, No.151, Kamarajar Road, Madurai - 625 009.
3.The President, Commissioner of Police, Madurai City, Madurai Rifle Club, Race Course Road, Madurai.
W.P.(MD)No.1579 of 2026 22.01.2026 8/8