Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Court raps Jubilee Hills Housing Society

HYDERABAD: In a judgment of far reaching consequences, Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy of the High Court directed the authorities to conduct full fledged inquiry into the affairs of Jubilee Hills Co-operative House Building Society. The society was fined Rs. 1 lakh for laxity it showed in responding to the problems of a member whose plot was snatched away.

The judge was allowing the writ petition filed by Dr. S. K.Singh who complained that he was allotted a plot by the society and when he was away in USA some one had sold it away to a third person. When the petitioner wrote to the society he was informed that one lady claimed herself to be his sister and on application the plot was transferred to her by the society. Based upon the transfer she later sold it off. When the petitioner preferred proceedings under the Cooperative Societies Act, initially the verdict was in his favour. It turned out that she was not related to Singh. The society filed appeal and he lost the case before the tribunal which prompted him to file the present writ petition.

Justice Nagarjuna Reddy traced the history of dispute and was dismayed at the action of the society which filed appeal against the order of the arbitrator. The court reprimanded the society for its indifference shown in the initial stage and then its enthusiasm to fight the case against its own member. The judge declared that the plot no 1012 is to be given to petitioner and the purchaser from the bogus sister of Singh has no right. The judge declared that the affairs of the society need to be probed under Section 51 of the A.P. Co Operative Societies Act. The authorities are to act on the report after the inquiry.

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