IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA. C.W.P. No. 7056 of 2011. Decided on: 19th October, 2011. Ved Prakash Shukla. ….. Petitioner. -Versus- State of H.P. and others. …… Respondents. Coram: The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Kurian Joseph, Chief Justice The Hon’ble Mr. Justice Rajiv Sharma, Judge. For the petitioner. : Mr. Sanjeev Bhushan, Advocate. For respondents No. 1 to 3. : Mr. Ankush Dass Sood, Addl. A.G. and Ms. Shubh Mahajan, Advocate. For respondent No. 6. : Mr. Ajay Mohan Goel, Advocate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Justice Kurian Joseph, C.J. (Oral): Petitioner approached this Court with certain grievances regarding the conduct of elections to the respondent- Co-operative Society. It is pointed out that in terms of the order dated 13th September, 2011, steps have been taken for conduct of elections. That order reads as follows: “The main allegation of the petitioner in this writ petition is that constituencies for the purpose of election to the Ambuja-Darla-Kashlog-Mangu Transport Co-operative Society, Darlaghat have been gerrymandered in such a way that the families have been getting monopoly in the activities of the Society. One of the averments in the writ petition is that when 21 zones have been carved out, there was no even distribution of numbers. Another serious contention of the petitioner is that the Society has only around 470 members and hence, it was not necessary to have 21 members in the Managing Committee/Board of 2 Directors. We are informed that previous committee also had 21 members. No doubt, the zone system was not there. But it is to be seen that the byelaws provides for membership in the Committee between 5 to 21 and the byelaws are in terms of the mandate in the statute. In view of the serious allegations, we directed respondents No. 4 and 5 to be present before this Court with records by order, dated 6th September, 2011, so that an attempt could be made conduct elections without upsetting the schedule. The parties are present before the Court. It is submitted that the constituencies were arranged only on account of the contiguity of the villages covered by the area of operation of the Society. Having gone through the entire records, we find it difficult to fully appreciate the attempt, though bonafide taken by respondents No. 4 & 5. This contiguity cannot be democratically appreciated with the membership being even in respect of 21 zones. Therefore, there will be a direction to respondents No. 4 and 5 to see that the zones have minimum representation of 22/33. In view of the apprehension that the polling may be conducted in each zone, it is made clear that the polling, though zone-wise, shall be conducted only at one and the same place. We are informed that the place has been selected as SDTO Office building at Darlaghat. We find from the election schedule that the time fixed for finalizing the voters list is 28.09.2011. Therefore, there will be a direction to respondents No. 4 & 5 to publish a revised voters list after getting the same re-approved from the Assistant Registrar within five days. Objections, if any, shall be filed within another two days and the hearing on the objections shall be conducted within another two days. The official publication of the final voters list shall be made on 28.09.2011 as per the published schedule itself and thereafter the schedule shall be followed as 3 such. There will be a direction to the 3rd respondent to over-see the process, as above.” 2. In view of the said order, as above, it is submitted that no further orders are required to be passed in this matter. The petition stands disposed of as above, so also the pending application(s), if any. (Justice Kurian Joseph), Chief Justice. (Justice Rajiv Sharma), Judge. October 19, 2011. (bhupender/K. Guleria)