IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF JUNE TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE V.ESWARAIAH WRIT PETITION No: 21029 of 2003 BETWEEN: 1 K. Srinivas Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Amnapoor, Velpoor Mandal. 2 T. Balraja Goud S/o. Mutha Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 3 T. Bala Goud S/o. Nara Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 4 T. Venkat Goud S/o. Kista Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 5 T. Kanka Goud S/o. Bala Goud, R/o. Timmapoor. 6 A. Ravi Goud S/o. Saya Goud, R/o. Amruthapoor. 7 K. Baba Goud S/o Nara Goud, R/o. Kancherla. 8 P. Shanker Goud S/o. Bhooma Goud, R/o. Pedda Malla Reddy. 9 T. Tirupathi Goud S/o. Mutha Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 10 R. Narsa Goud S/o. Tirumal Goud, R/o. Rudrarm Mirdoddi. 11 J. Rama Goud S/o. Papa Goud, R/o. Jakkannapet. 12 I. Venkat Goud S/o. Rama Goud, R/o. Issanagar. 13 S. Shanker Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Issanagar. 14 R. Baga Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Rampoor. 15 G. Mutha Goud S/o. Yella Goud, R/o. Gorantla. 16 S. Swamy Goud S/o. Balaraja Goud, R/o. Sangameshwar Domakonda Mandal. 17 K. Sudarshan Goud S/o. Nara Goud, R/o. Kondapur. 18 Y. Narsa Goud S/o. Malla Goud, Yadaram. 19 S. Yada Goud S/o. Shanker Goud, R/o. Sirigadha. 20 D. Satyanarayana Goud S/o. Kasha Goud, R/o. Damannapet, Gambiraopet, 21 P. Swamy Goud S/o. Shanker Goud, R/o. Peddamalla Reddy. 22 N. Rama Goud S/o. Veera Goud, R/o. Nizampet. 23 B. Sidda Goud S/o. Yella Goud, R/o. Biknoor. 24 B. Nara Goud S/o. Malla Goud, R/o. Biknoor. 25 K. Janardhan Goud S/o. Rama Goud, R/o. Kallor. 26 N. Anja Goud S/o. Rama Goud, R/o. Naskal, Medak District. 27 P. Nara Goud S/o. Dharma Goud, R/o. Peddamalla Reddy. 28 M. Raja Goud S/o. Malla Goud, R/o. Masanpally. 29 N. Bala Goud S/o. Veera Goud, R/o. Nizampet. 30 N. Parshagoud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Nizampet. 31 P. Asha Goud S/o. Magula Goud, R/o. Peddamalla Reddy 32 K. Parsha Goud S/o. Yella Goud, R/o. Nagapet, Gambiraopet 33 N. Narsa Goud S/o. Veera Goud, R/o. Nizampet. 34 P. Siddarama Goud S/o. Asha Goud, R/o. Peddamalla Reddy 35 R. Dubba Goud S/o. Raja Goud, R/o. Ranpuram, Medak District. 36 B. Balalinga Goud S/o. Nara Goud, R/o. Boppapuram Medak Dist. 37 K. Gangadhar Goud S/o. Rama Goud, R/o. Kallor. 38 M. Balaraj Goud S/o Narsa Goud, R/o. Malkapoor. 39 K. Samy Goud S/o. Devi Goud, R/o. Nagampet, Karimnagar Dist. 40 S. Nagabhushan Goud S/o. Penta Goud, R/o. Sardan, Medak Dist. 41 T. Malla Goud S/o. Kista Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 42 E. Yada Goud S/o. Bhooma Goud, R/o. Issanagar. 43 S. Nara Goud S/o. Raja Goud, R/o. Samudralingapoor Gambiraopet, Karimnagar Dist. 44 S. Raja Goud S/o. Yella Goud, R/o. Samudralingapoor Gambiraopet, Karimnagar Dist. 45 S. Penta Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Ankapoor. 46 K. Anja Goud S/o. Asha Goud, R/o. Kurnapally. 47 S. Nara Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Ankapoor. 48 E. Jaya Rama Goud S/o. Gangaram Goud, R/o. Issanagar. 49 A. Narsa Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Ankapoor. 50 T. Bhooma Goud S/o. Kista Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 51 E. Balaraja Goud S/o. Venka Goud, R/o. Issanagar. 52 V. Shanker Goud S/o. Shiva Goud, R/o. Vennuapoor. 53 K. Satya Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Kammarpally. 54 K. Shanker Goud S/o. Ranga Goud, R/o. Konaipally. 55 V. Chandra Goud S/o. Ranga Goud, R/o. Vunnapoor. 56 E. Nagaraj Goud S/o. Yada Goud, R/o. Issanagar. 57 T. Anja Goud S/o. Raja Goud, R/o. Tujalpoor. 58 Y. Kasha Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Yadaram. 59 Y. Yada Goud S/o. Nara Goud, R/o. Yadaram. 60 V. Nara Goud S/o. Linga Goud, R/o. Vadiyat. 61 K. Anja Goud S/o. Yella Goud, R/o. Kothapally, Gambiraopet Mandal. 62 K. Chinna Narsa Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Komanpally. 63 B. Bala Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Bhoompally. 64 N. Deva Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Narayanapoor. 65 K. Narsa Goud S/o. Linga Goud, R/o. Koammanpally. 66 Ambaripeta Sidda Goud S/o. Saya Goud, R/o. Ambaripet, Domakonda Mandal. 67 Lingapuram Bikshapathi Goud S/o. Nara Goud, R/o. Lingapoor, Gambiraopet. 68 Lilngapuram Bala Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Lingapoor, Gambiraopet. 69 Issanagar Shekar Goud S/o. Nara Goud, R/o. Issanagar, Domakonda Mandal. 70 Thippapuram Raju Goud S/o. Narsa Goud, R/o. Samudralingapur, Gambiraopet Mandal. 71 Gorintala Venka Goud S/o. Mutha Goud, R/o. Gorinatala Gambiraopet Mandal. 72 Chittigai Chandra Goud S/o. Kista Goud, R/o. Singaraipally, Machareddy Mandal. (All the petitioners are qualified Tappers of TCS, Nizamabad-1) ... PETITIONERS AND 1 The Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rep. by its Principal Secretary, Revenue (Excise) Department, Secretariat, Hyderabad. 2 The Commissioner for Prohibition & Excise, A.P. Hyderabad. 3 Prohibition & Excise Superintendent, Nizamabad District at Nizamabad. 4 The Toddy Tappers Co-op. Society (Regd.No.j69), Nizamabad, Nizamabad Dist. ...RESPONDENTS Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court may be pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, preferably one in the nature of writ of Mandamus, declaring the action of the 4th respondent in not considering the claim of the petitioners for membership in the society, in spite of the proceedings of the 3rd respondent dated 14-7-2003, 26-8-2003 and 3-9-2003, as illegal, arbitrary, discriminatory and contrary to the guidelines issued by the Government of A.P. N.G.O.Ms.No.145, Revenue (Ex.II) Department dated 28-3-2002 and consequently direct the 4th respondent to provide membership to the petitioners herein forthwith, and pass Counsel for the Petitioners: MR. J. KANAKAIAH Counsel for the Respondents 1 to 3: GP FOR PROHIBITION & EXCISE Counsel for the Respondent No.4: MR. B. SAI RAM GOUD The Court made the following: ORDER: Petitioners, 72 in number, seeking membership in the fourth respondent – Toddy Tappers Cooperative Society, (Regd.No.J69), Nizamabad, filed this Writ of Mandamus to declare the action of the fourth respondent society in not considering their claim for membership in the society in spite of the proceedings of the third respondent – Prohibition & Excise Superintendent, Nizamabad, dated 14.07.2003, 26.08.2003 and 03.09.2003 as illegal and arbitrary, discriminatory and contrary to the guidelines issued by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in G.O.Ms.No.145 Revenue (Ex.II) Department dated 28.03.2002. 2. Though the writ petition has been admitted on 28.10.2003 no counter is forthcoming from any of the respondents. In fact, this Court granted interim direction directing the fourth respondent to implement the proceedings of the third respondent– (i) Rc.No.1364/CCOP/2001-02 dated 14.07.2003; (ii) Rc.No.1364/coop/2002 dated 26.08.2003 and (iii) Rc.No.1364/2002/Coop-2 dated 03.09.2003. 3. Petitioners submit that they are genuine tappers tapping the trees in the topes earmarked for the fourth respondent and that they have been making representations time and again to admit them as members, but the fourth respondent society declined to consider their representations for admitting them as members. As per the guidelines framed under the Excise Policy for the year 2002-2003 in G.O.Ms.No.145, Revenue (Ex.II) Department dated 28.03.2002 the petitioners are entitled to be admitted as members of the society. As the representations of the petitioners have not been considered they approached the Functional Registrar i.e. the third respondent, who got the matter enquired through the Station House Officer, Nizamabad with regard to skill test. The SHO conducted tapping test and 65 applicants were found to be genuine tappers, who are working in the topes pertaining to TCS – Nizamabad-I. The Commissioner of Prohibition & Excise also directed to enroll the 65 tappers as members of the fourth respondent society and accordingly, the Prohibition & Excise Superintendent by order dated 14.07.2003 directed the fourth respondent society to convene a managing committee meeting of the TCS Nizamabad-I and enroll the membership of 65 tappers in accordance with Section 19(3) of the Andhra Pradesh Cooperative Societies Act, 1964 (for short ‘the Act’) and the list of 65 members was enclosed along with the said proceedings. Apart from the 65 applicants 7 more were also found eligible as per the enquiry report and as per the test conducted, accordingly another order dated 26.08.2003 was issued directing the fourth respondent society to convene Managing Committee meeting in accordance with Section 19 of the Act to enroll their membership. 4. Petitioners further submit that when their claims have not been considered for enrolling them as members, the Prohibition & Excise Superintendent issued another order dated 03.09.2003 enclosing the requisite amount for enrollment of all the petitioners amounting to Rs.902/- vide D.D.No.016936 dated 15.07.2002 towards admission fee and share capital to be paid in favour of the President, TCS Nizamabad-I. Though the list of eligible tappers along with their admission fee and share capital has been forwarded to the fourth respondent society, the applications of the petitioners have not been considered and disposed of, therefore, they seek a Writ of Mandamus to direct the fourth respondent society to admit them as members in its society. 5. As already noticed, no counter is forthcoming to rebut the allegations made in the writ affidavit. 6. Sri B. Sai Ram Goud, learned counsel appearing for the fourth respondent society, submits that under the Andhra Pradesh Cooperative Societies Act and the Rules made thereunder new applications are required to be filed under Form J enclosing the requisite particulars tendering the share capital and membership fee and thereupon the Managing Committee is entitled to consider the applications for admission or refusing the same under Section 31-A of the Act and under Section 19(3) of the Act it is for the general body to admit or refuse the membership after giving sufficient reasons. He further submits that as the applications are not before the society, the society could not consider the said applications. 7. I am of the opinion that Form J has no application to the Toddy Tappers Cooperative Society, as Form J application applies only to societies falling under Rule 12-A of the Andhra Pradesh Cooperative Societies Rules. The Toddy Cooperative Society is not a society for the purpose of sub- section 2-A of Section 19 of the Act; therefore, it cannot be said that there is a prescribed proforma for making an application for admission to the society; only the excise policy guidelines are the requisite qualifications i.e. tappers of a particular society and involved in the tapping profession. In the instant case, the excise officials have conducted the skill test and the petitioners were found to be genuine tappers; therefore, their particulars along with share capital and admission fee was forwarded by the Functional Registrar, as the Prohibition and Excise Superintendent has no delegated powers to direct the society to admit the petitioners under Section 19 of the Act. Against the decision of the society refusing to admit the petitioners as members under Section 19 of the Act only an appeal lies to the Cooperative Tribunal under Section 76 of the Act. However, I am of the opinion that there cannot be any justification on the part of the fourth respondent society in sleeping over the matter without considering the applications of the petitioners forwarded by the Prohibition & Excise Superintendent. 8. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, the fourth respondent society is directed to consider the claims of the petitioners pursuant to the proceedings of the Prohibition & Excise Superintendent forwarding the particulars of 72 petitioners enclosing the requisite share capital and admission fee seeking admission in the fourth respondent society and the society is also directed to take an appropriate decision, communicating the same to the petitioners, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________ V. ESWARAIAH, J June 16, 2008 DSK