R.Navaneethan v. The District Registrar(Administration),
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 26.08.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN and W.M.P.(MD)No.18363 of 2025 R.Navaneethan ... Petitioner -vs1.The District Registrar (Administration), Cheranmahadevi Registration District, Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli District.
2.The Tirunelveli CMS Evangelical Church, Represented by its Secretary, Edayankulam, Nanguneri Taluk, Tirunelveli District.
... Respondents Prayer:- Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the first respondent to appoint an Observer to ensure that only members in the registered Form VI of second respondent are permitted in the Annual General Body Meeting, scheduled on 27.08.2025, by considering the representation dated 22.08.2025.
For Petitioner : Mr.R.J.Karthick For R1 : Mr.S.Kameswaran Government Advocate For R2 : Mr.K.Ragatheesh Kumar for M/s.Isaac Chambers
ORDER
The petitioner has filed the present Writ Petition seeking a direction to the first respondent to appoint an Observer to ensure that only members whose names are found in the registered Form VI of the second respondent Society are permitted to participate in the Annual General Body Meeting, scheduled on 27.08.2025, by considering the petitioner's representation dated 22.08.2025.
2. Earlier, the petitioner had approached this Court in W.P.(MD)No.14606 of 2025, which came to be disposed of on 22.05.2025. In that Writ Petition, the petitioner sought a direction to the first respondent to appoint an Observer for the General Body Meeting scheduled on 23.05.2025, based on the petitioner's representation dated 09.05.2025.
3. The aforesaid Writ Petition was disposed of at the admission stage by taking note of Section 26(4) of the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, which empowers the Registrar to nominate an Officer subordinate to him to be present at the Annual General Body Meeting. Accordingly, the first respondent was directed to pass appropriate orders on the petitioner's representation dated 09.05.2025.
4. It appears that S.Venkatraman, Sub-Registrar, was appointed as an Observer pursuant to the directions of this Court in its order dated 22.05.2025. In his report dated 26.07.2025, the said Observer has stated that the petitioner had ceased to be a member of the second respondent Society.
5. It is also brought to the notice of this Court that several civil suits are pending before the competent civil court at the behest of the petitioner.
6. In view of the categorical finding of the Observer and the pendency of civil disputes, this Court is of the opinion that the petitioner has no locus standi to maintain the present Writ Petition. This view also finds support in the recent order
passed by this Court on 23.07.2025 in W.P.(MD)No.17991 of 2025 [T.Gopi vs. The Inspector General of Registration and Others], wherein, under similar circumstances, it was held that a person who had been removed from the General Body lacked the locus standi to seek relief of the nature sought in the present Writ Petition.
7. In light of the above, no positive direction can be issued on the basis of the petitioner's representation dated 21.08.2025. However, it is open to the petitioner to establish his rights before the competent forum in the manner known to law.
8. Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands dismissed, with the above observations. No costs. Consequently, connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed.
NCC : Yes / No 26.08.2025 Index : Yes / No smn2
To:- The District Registrar (Administration), Cheranmahadevi Registration District, Cheranmahadevi, Tirunelveli District.
C.SARAVANAN , J.
smn2 W .P.(MD)No.23374 of 2025 26.08.2025