IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.3300 of 2010 1. BINOD KUMAR S/O KRISHNA DEO SINGH R/O B-30,ANAND VIHAR COLONY ,P.O.BIHAR VETERINARY COLLEGE ,P.S.RUPASPUR,DISTT-PATNA Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR THROUGH THE CHIEF SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF BIHAR,PATNA 2. THE SECRETARY CUM COMMISSIONER ,CO-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF BIHAR,PATNA 3. THE REGISTRAR CO- OPERATIVE SOCIETIES BIHAR,PATNA 4. THE JOINT REGISTRAR CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES PATNA DIVISION 5. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR CO-OPERATIVE OFFICER BUDH MARG,PATNA 6. THE DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE OFFICER BUDH MARG,PATNA 7. SMT.LEELA SINGH W/O RAJ BALLABH PRASAD SINGH THE PRESENT SECRETARY OF ANAND NAGAR SAHKARI GRIH NIRMAN SAMITI,PATNA,RESIDENT OF A-58,ANAND VIHAR COLONY,P.O.BIHAR VETERINARY COLLEGE,P.S.RUPASPUR,DISTT-PATNA 8. RAJ BALLABH PD. SINGH S/O LATE RAMESHWARI PD. SINGH EX SECRETARY ANAND NAGAR SAHKARI GRIH NIRMAN SAMITI PATNA AND RESIDENT OF A-58 ANAND VIHAR COLONY,P.O.BIHAR VETERINARY COLLEGE ,P.S.RUPASPUR,DISTT-PATNA ----------- 02. 19.05.2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and for the State. The petitioner claims to be a member of the Anand Nagar Sahkari Grih Nirman Samiti, Patna. He desires certain documents from the office of the Co- operative Society, which is not being made available to him. Learned counsel submits that he has approached the Co-operative authorities, they have issued directions, notwithstanding which the Co- operative Society is not furnishing the documents. 2 Learned counsel for the State points out that it appears that the petitioner desires certain documents from private party, respondent nos. 7 and 8. The records of a Co-operative Society are required to be kept in the office of the Society and not at the residence of private respondents or any office bearer of the Society. If there are any private documents, entitled to remain in private custody, in context of a relationship with the Co-operative Society and which cannot be classified as an official document to be kept in the office of the Society the matter may be different. A member of the Society certainly has a right to have access to the official records of the Society and the Society is obliged to furnish him copies of such documents. That is the spirit of the Co-operative movement. But simultaneously a member of a Co- operative Society cannot ask for documents at his fancy, but shall have to inform the Society of the germane reasons for which he requires the same. If the petitioner has represented before the Society which does not furnish him documents and he has drawn the attention of the Registrar of the Co- operative to the same, the Court expects the Registrar of Co-operative’s to exercise his powers in accordance with law to ensure that the Co-operative Society abides by his 3 directions unless the Society has challenged the direction of the Registrar of the Co-operative Society and appropriate orders have been passed by the Competent Court of law or authority. The Court need not remind the Registrar of his supervisory/regulatory power over the Co-operative Society which may decline to abide by his directions and instructions. Circumstances so warranting, the Court expects the Registrar to act in accordance with law. If the petitioner files a representation before the Registrar of the Co-operative Society, let him consider the request of the petitioner in accordance with law within a maximum period of two months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order before him. The application stands disposed. P.K. (Navin Sinha, J.)